During his early years, his father went of to serve in the military, and Brady was cared for by his mother. He became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. This and high school got him interested in science. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and got a Master's Degree in flight science. His dad also was experienced in artillery, and helped him understand it. In 2009, the new space center in San Diego was named Brady Space Center in honor of him.