Michael Flynn

Date of Birth: 12.01.1958

Michael Thomas Flynn is a retired lieutenant general of the U.S. Army, 18th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (2012-2014), former commander of the Joint Functional Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and former member of the Military Intelligence Board.

Birthplace. Education. Michael Flynn was born in December 1958 in Middletown, Rhode Island. Flynn comes from a banking family and is a descendant of Irish immigrants. In 1981, he earned a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Rhode Island and then served in the paratroopers. He later served in the 82nd Airborne Division (XVIII Airborne Corps) and in the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command. He also served in the 25th Infantry Division, the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Training Center, and the U.S. Army Intelligence Center.

Flynn earned a master's degree in business administration from Golden Gate University, a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs and Strategy from the Naval War College, and an honorary doctorate from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.

From June 2001, he served as assistant chief of staff, G2, XVIII Airborne Corps (Fort Bragg, North Carolina) and from June 2002 to July 2002 he was the head of intelligence for Joint Task Force 180 in Afghanistan. From June 2002 to June 2004, Flynn commanded the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade.

Between 2004 and 2007, he was involved in operations of the U.S. Special Operations Command in Iraq and Afghanistan, led the search for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, bin Laden's right-hand man, and from 2007 to 2008 he directed intelligence for U.S. Central Command. From 2009-2010, he was head of multinational contingent intelligence in Afghanistan.

Between 2012 and 2014, Flynn led the Pentagon’s intelligence agency. He announced in March 2014 that the military intelligence had notified U.S. leadership about the impending relocation of Russian troops to Crimea seven days before the occupation of the peninsula began.

In August 2014, Flynn resigned from his position as head of military intelligence and from military service, and then founded a private company that provides intelligence services for private companies.

Political Career. Although the former head of military intelligence was affiliated with the Democratic Party, he supported Donald Trump during the campaign and spoke at the Republican National Convention on his behalf. On November 18, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump offered Michael Flynn the position of National Security Advisor.

On February 14, 2017, Michael Flynn resigned. His resignation was preceded by criticism of Flynn for discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in Washington in late December 2016.

Views and Ratings. Flynn claimed that the Obama administration underestimated the threat posed by Syrian Islamists and jihadists, and criticized the Iran deal. Flynn considers the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi to be some of the worst mistakes of the U.S., as these events allowed the rise of Islamism in the Middle East. In the fall of 2015, he fully supported the military operation of the Russian Federation in Syria, stating it was directed against the 'Islamic State.' Flynn appeared several times on Russia Today, attended the 2015 anniversary celebration of the Russian propaganda channel where he was seated at a table with Putin. He is co-author of the book 'Field of Battle: How We Can Win the Global War against Radical Islam.'

Family. Married for over 30 years to Lori Andrade. They have two sons (Michael Flynn Jr. - Director of the private company Flynn Intel Group).

13.11.2023