About Us

My name is Mike Oehl. I served as a Marine Corps Officer for 28 years in various command and staff positions and duty stations around the world. My wife Janet and I and I fell in love with Emerald Isle in 1984 while living in Jacksonville, NC and have been residents of the island since buying a home down Coast Guard Road almost 20 years ago. After transitioning from my Marine Corps career I assumed operational control of Brown & Curtis, LLC in early 2011.

I was commissioned a Marine Corps 2nd Lieutenant through the NROTC, Marine Option, Scholarship program after graduation from Marquette University in 1983. I have commanded Marines at every grade, from Lieutenant to Colonel, leading organizations in excess of 1000 personnel with operating budgets exceeding $15 million in both peacetime and combat environments. Throughout my 28-year career my responsibilities have varied, from basic personnel leadership/management to supply and logistics support, inclusive of facilities maintenance and management for over 300 facilities spread among eight southeastern states. I am also a trained government contracting officer.

I am the recipient of the following awards for my Marine Corps service: Two Legions of Merit, The Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

My wife Janet and I have three children; a senior at UNC, Chapel Hill and two attending our local High School. When we have been unable to live on Emerald Isle due to Marine Corps directed assignments we placed our house on the long-term rental market.

Our long-term experience both renting and owning on Emerald Isle culminated with a recent renovation and extensive addition to our home whereby I supervised a construction project that effectively doubled the size of the house. After settling on a contractor, I supervised the project in great detail as my family and I were living in a rental home in close proximity to the build. After 8 months, countless discussions and negotiations, and close to 1000 digital photographs documenting the project, we moved into our home with no intention of ever moving again!

Our family loves Emerald Isle and, after traveling the world, we have decided this is “home”. Our house has been through multiple storms and tenants while we have owned it. We understand what it means to be an “absentee owner” as we have had to manage our home from afar. We are also acutely aware of the unique challenges of living on or near the coast. My homeowner experience has taught me that preventive maintenance and a critical eye for detail go a long way towards preventing long term problems. My Marine Corps experience has honed that critical eye and imbued me with proven management and leadership skills that I will put to use in caring for your home. With that in mind, I hope you will consider letting me serve you through Brown and Curtis’ quality home care service.