Brian K. Rock

Brian Kevin Rock was born on July 16, 1961, in Montpelier, Vermont.¹ He spent four years in the U.S. Army prior to joining the White House staff in 1988.² As an engineer, Rock  HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration systems at the White House. 

His obituary noted: “Always a lover of animals, perhaps the best part of his job was playing with the first pets.”³ According to former White House Chief Usher Chris Emery, “Brian Rock was one of the few people on earth besides the president and first lady that Rex, the Reagans’ dog, liked… Brian would often take Rex for walks around the White House Grounds and usually had Rex with him when completing routine chores around the mansion."⁴ 

During the Clinton years, he became good friends with their cat, Socks, and during the holiday season of 1996, he helped First Lady Hillary Clinton take Socks to a local children’s hospital. Rock recalled: "It was a great feeling to be able to bring so much joy to kids who were sick…I knew it was something they would never forget, and neither would I."⁵

Brian Rock remained on staff at the White House through 2017.⁶ Outside of work, he was active in the American Legion, The Moose Club, and The Amvets Post 10.⁷ He passed away on April 3, 2024.8