Stefania Alenka Brown-VanHoozer, 70, of Chantilly, VA, passed away on November 23, 2023 after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer.

Alenka was born on February 26, 1953 to Charles and Liliana Brown in Trieste, Italy. As an army brat throughout her childhood and adolescence, she traveled across the world with her parents and three sisters. She met Joe VanHoozer when she was 19 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1972; she was a cashier at the Post Exchange, and he was a fresh-faced enlisted Vietnam veteran. Sensing her brightness, their first dates were apparently peppered with Joe’s consistent requests for marriage.

Eventually, she relented and they married in Missouri in 1973. Joe’s tours of duty continued her crisscrossing around the globe - Belgium, Germany, Washington, DC, San Antonio, TX, and Denver, CO. Throughout it all she was able to earn a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, often taking one course a semester and taking care of their son, Daniel, who was born in 1978.

Alenka’s academic journey paralleled her career success, ever distinguished by her core talent - a relentless drive. Beginning with her Bachelor’s, she developed a deep curiosity and passion for technology. While stationed in Denver, she obtained a Master’s in Electrical Engineering, specializing in laser and fiber optics communication. It was this achievement that kick started her career at the Department of Energy (DOE) with engineering positions at the Rocky Flats Site, then the Idaho National Engineering Laboratories (INEL), and finally at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. While in Idaho, at INEL, she earned a PhD in Human Factors Engineering, a testament to her dedication and intellectual rigor. Formally then, she was known as Dr. Stefania Alenka Brown-VanHoozer, but always Dr. Brown to her colleagues and continually Alenka to her friends and family.

On September 12, 2001, while a Division Director at Oak Ridge, her career shifted. She was requested by the Department of Defense by name to aid in the War on Terror. Leaving DOE and for more than twenty years afterward, she became a recognized subject matter expert for various agencies and departments focused on Defense. Dr. Brown’s research, analysis, and innovative work in human factors, nonverbal communication, and Neuro Psychometric Analytics left an indelible mark in the fields of technology and psychology for defense practitioners. She lauded her last post at the Institute for Defense Analyses. It was the perfect place for her, she often remarked; a mix of practical and conceptual, a place with smart and thoughtful colleagues and peers to collaborate with, and a space free for her to imagine the next research idea - "play." And true to her spirit, she continued her work there until she simply couldn’t.

Dr. Stefania Alenka Brown-VanHoozer was not only a trailblazer in her professional field but also a source of inspiration to those who knew her. It is no surprise that she nearly completed her very long “bucket list,” including: becoming an engineer, pilot, college professor; working for NASA and national laboratories; traveling the world; and finally finding a hobby to explore yet another world - SCUBA diving.

It was with profound sadness that Alenka left us on the evening of November 23, 2023. She is survived by her loving husband, Joe, her devoted son Daniel and his wife Amy, and her cherished grandson Percy. She is also survived by her mother and three sisters.

Her lasting legacy will be one of achievement, perseverance, and rigor. Her spirit and contributions will always be a guiding light in our lives. Her final resting place will be at the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery.

Rest in peace, Alenka. Mom. Dr. Brown. We miss you. We love you.

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