Robert Rex Brownlee was born on March 4, 1924, in Zenith Kansas. Robert married Addie Leah Brownlee on October 23, 1943, and they had five children: Jeanna, Nancy, Wayne, Wenda, and Wendall.

Brownlee was employed as Divison Leader of the Test Division at Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) as part of his affiliation with the Nevada Test Site. Brownlee retired from the Los Alamos National Lab (1955 to 1992).

Brownless has obtained a bachelor of arts degree, master of arts degree, and a doctor of philosophy degree.