Michael T. Flynn
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| Michael T. Flynn | |
|---|---|
| Name | Michael T. Flynn |
| Caption | Official portrait, 2012 |
| Birth name | Michael Thomas Flynn |
| Birth date | 24 December 1958 |
| Birth place | Middletown, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1981–2014 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Assistant Director of National Intelligence, 18th Airborne Corps (G2), Task Force 714 (J2) |
| Battles | Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Just Cause, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit (4), Bronze Star Medal (2), Purple Heart |
| Education | University of Rhode Island (BS), United States Army Command and General Staff College (MMAS), Naval War College (MA), Joint Forces Staff College |
Michael T. Flynn is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the National Security Advisor for a brief period in 2017. His military career spanned over three decades, including key intelligence roles during the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, culminating in his directorship of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Following his retirement, he became a prominent, controversial figure in American politics, known for his association with the Trump administration and subsequent legal issues.
Early life and education
Born in Middletown, Rhode Island, he was raised in a family with a strong military tradition; his father fought in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. He attended the University of Rhode Island, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in management science and receiving his commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. His military education included the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, where he earned a Master of Military Art and Science, and the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he received a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies.
Military career
Commissioned as a second lieutenant in military intelligence, his early assignments included participation in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and Operation Just Cause in Panama. He served extensively with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne Corps. Following the September 11 attacks, he deployed to Afghanistan as the director of intelligence for the Joint Special Operations Command and later served as the senior intelligence officer for the United States Central Command during the Iraq War. He was appointed director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2012 by President Barack Obama, but his tenure was marked by internal friction, and he retired from the United States Armed Forces in 2014.
Post-military activities and political involvement
After retirement, he founded the Flynn Intel Group, a consulting firm, and became a vocal critic of the Obama administration's foreign policy, particularly regarding the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. He emerged as a leading national security advisor to the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump, delivering a prominent speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Following Trump's victory, he was appointed National Security Advisor, but served only 24 days before resigning amid controversy over his contacts with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian Ambassador to the United States.
Legal issues and guilty plea
His resignation triggered investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In December 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the FBI regarding his communications with Sergey Kislyak. He cooperated extensively with the Mueller investigation and the Justice Department, but later sought to withdraw his plea, alleging prosecutorial misconduct. His sentencing was delayed multiple times, and in May 2020, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case, a decision later upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Post-pardon activities and public statements
In November 2020, he received a full pardon from President Donald Trump. Since then, he has been a prominent speaker at political events aligned with the America First movement, including the Conservative Political Action Conference. He has propagated conspiracy theories such as QAnon and made public statements advocating for a political upheaval akin to a "Burma-style" revolution in the United States. He remains an influential figure within certain factions of the Republican Party, frequently appearing on media outlets like Newsmax and One America News Network.
Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:American military personnel of the Iraq War Category:American military personnel of the War in Afghanistan Category:United States Army lieutenant generals Category:Trump administration personnel