Charles A. Flynn
Official portrait, 2021
Bornc. 1963 (age 60–61)
Middletown, Rhode Island, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1985–present
RankGeneral
Commands heldUnited States Army Pacific
25th Infantry Division
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsGulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal (5)
RelationsLTG Michael T. Flynn (brother)[1]

Charles A. Flynn (born c. 1963) is a United States Army general who serves as commanding general of United States Army Pacific since 4 June 2021.[2] He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G3/5/7) of the Army Staff from June 2019 to May 2021.[3] He is the younger brother of Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn, Donald Trump's first National Security Advisor.[1]

Background

Flynn was raised in Middletown, Rhode Island, and graduated from Middletown High School in 1981.[4] Flynn received his commission via the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the University of Rhode Island in 1985.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Rhode Island in 1985.[4]

Military career

Flynn, as commander of the 25th Infantry Division, hosts the commanding general of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año on 20 October 2015.

Flynn received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 1997 and a Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School within the Joint Forces Staff College of National Defense University.[4]

At the start of his career, Flynn became qualified as an Infantry officer.[5] In addition, he completed the Ranger, Airborne, and Pathfinder courses.[5] His early assignments included: commander of A Company, 4th Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment and commander of A Company 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.[5] He also served as operations officer (S-3) of 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.[5]

Flynn subsequently commanded 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment, which included deployment for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.[5] He deployed to Iraq again as commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.[5] He later served as executive assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff and executive officer for the commander of International Security Assistance Force, United States Forces – Afghanistan.[5] Flynn went on to serve as director of the Mission Command Center of Excellence (MCCOE) and acting commander of the United States Army Combined Arms Center.[5]

Lt. Gen. Flynn at a COVID-19 press briefing at the Pentagon, 20 March 2020

As Flynn advanced through the general officer ranks, he served as the 82nd Airborne Division's deputy commander for operations and assistant operations officer for readiness (G-3/5/7) for United States Army Forces Command.[5] He commanded the 25th Infantry Division from 2014 to 2016, then was assigned as deputy commander of United States Army Pacific.[5] He next served as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations (G-3/5/7) at Headquarters Department of the Army.[5] In June 2019, Flynn was assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations (G3/5/7).[5]

Newly promoted General Flynn receives the command colors of USARPAC from Admiral John C. Aquilino as he assumes command on 4 June 2021.

On 30 November 2020, his nomination for promotion to general was submitted to the U.S. Senate and was confirmed by voice vote of the full Senate on 20 December 2020.[6] On 25 January 2021, the Department of Defense announced that Flynn will be the next commander of the United States Army Pacific at Fort Shafter in Honolulu.[7] He assumed that command in a change of command ceremony at Fort Shafter, Hawaii on 4 June 2021.[8]

U.S. Capitol attack

During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, a conference call took place between Capitol police, D.C. officials, and Pentagon officials. In that call, the Chief of the Capitol police made "an urgent, urgent immediate request for National Guard assistance", telling them he needed "boots on the ground". However, Lieutenant General Walter E. Piatt, Director of the Army Staff, said he could not recommend the request be approved.[9] Initially denying his involvement, the Army later confirmed that Flynn had participated in the phone call, although it claimed he cannot remember if he said anything on the critical call about deploying National Guard, but others on the call reported hearing his voice.[10] In early December 2021, Colonel Earl G. Matthews released a memo that accused Flynn of making willful distortions of the events of 6 January, describing Flynn and LTG Walter E. Piatt as "absolute and unmitigated liars" and of giving “perjured testimony before Congress”.[11] Charles Flynn's role drew scrutiny in light of his brother Michael's recent calls for martial law and a redo election overseen by the military.[10]

Awards and decorations

Other awards[2]
Expert Infantryman Badge
Overseas Service Bar (x7)

Personal life

Flynn and his wife Kathleen have three children: Molly, Sean, and Tara.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles A. Flynn.
  1. ^ a b Cuningham, Henry (1 January 2013). "Brother generals Mike and Charlie Flynn". The Fayetteville Observer. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "USARPAC Leaders". U.S. Army Pacific. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn slated to command US Army Pacific, and 14 other promotions". 27 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d College of Arts and Sciences: Military Science and Leadership (Army ROTC). "Biography: Charles A. Flynn". URI.edu. Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Biography, Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army". AUSA.org. Arlington, VA: Association of the United States Army. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  6. ^ "PN2368 — Lt. Gen. Charles A. Flynn — Army". U.S. Congress. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  7. ^ "General Officer Assignments". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  8. ^ "WEBCAST: U.S. ARMY PACIFIC CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY". dvidshub.net. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  9. ^ Leonnig, Carol D.; Davis, Aaron C.; Hermann, Peter; Demirjian, Karoun (10 January 2021). "Outgoing Capitol Police chief: House, Senate security officials hamstrung efforts to call in National Guard". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b Lamothe, Dan; Sonne, Paul; Leonnig, Carol D.; Davis, Aaron C. (20 January 2021). "Army falsely denied Flynn's brother was involved in key part of military response to Capitol riot". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  11. ^ "The Harder Right: An Analysis of a Recent DoD Inspector General Investigation and Other Matters".
Military offices Preceded byTimothy McGuire Deputy Commanding General for Operations of the 82nd Airborne Division 2012–2013 Succeeded byChristopher G. Cavoli Preceded by??? Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Readiness of the United States Army Forces Command 2013–2014 Succeeded byWilliam E. King IV Preceded byW. Kurt Fuller Commander of the 25th Infantry Division 2014–2016 Succeeded byChristopher G. Cavoli Preceded byTodd B. McCaffrey Deputy Commanding General (South) of the United States Army Pacific 2016–2018 Succeeded byJonathan P. Braga Preceded byJames Rainey Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of the United States Army 2018–2019 Succeeded byPaul T. Calvert Preceded byJoseph Anderson Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of the United States Army 2019–2021 Succeeded byJames Rainey Preceded byPaul LaCamera Commanding General of United States Army Pacific 2021–present Incumbent
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