Dr. Brian W. Flynn

Brian Flynn is a consultant, writer, trainer, and speaker specializing in preparation for, response to, and recovery from, the psychosocial aspects of large-scale emergencies and disasters.  He has served numerous national and international organizations, states, and academic institutions.  In addition, he currently serves as an Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Maryland.
 
On January 1, 2002, he left Federal service as a Rear Admiral/Assistant Surgeon General in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS).  He has directly operated, and supervised the operation of, the Federal Government’s domestic disaster mental health program (including terrorism), programs in suicide and youth violence prevention, child trauma, refugee mental health, women’s and minority mental health concerns, and rural mental health. He has served as an advisor to many Federal departments and agencies, states, and national professional organizations.  He is recognized internationally for his expertise in large-scale trauma and has served as an advisor to practitioners, academicians, and government officials in many nations. Notable work examples include:
 
·      Following the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, he served as a special consultant to both USAID and the State Department regarding the mental health consequences of these events.  In the years following, he has made several trips to East Africa to consult, develop, and implement mental health service and training programs for both Americans and Africans.

·      Following the shootings at Columbine High School, he accompanied Vice President and Mrs. Gore on their trip to Littleton, Colorado, to advise on issues regarding violence and trauma as well as to meet with the families of the dead and injured.

·      In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, he was on site in New York City within 48 hours and has played a key role in assessing mental health needs, designing, and implementing service programs.  He later responded to the bioterrorist attacks in Washington, D.C.  During and after these incidents, he served as a senior advisor to Department of Health and Human Services leadership including Secretary Tommy Thompson and the U.S. Surgeon General.

He is the author of many publications in the area of human response to both natural and human-caused disasters and is a frequent contributor on these topics in both print and electronic media.  During his career, he has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the prestigious Health Leader of the Year Award for 2000 awarded by the Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association and the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest honor of the USPHS.
 
He received his B.A. from North Carolina Wesleyan College, his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from East Carolina University, and his Ed.D. in Mental Health Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.