Charles A. Flynn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Born | c. 1963 (age 62–63) Middletown, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1985–2024 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Army Pacific 25th Infantry Division 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division 2nd Battalion,504th Parachute Infantry Regiment |
| Conflicts | Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (5) Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia |
| Relations | LTGMichael T. Flynn (brother)[1] |
Charles A. Flynn (bornc. 1963) is a retiredUnited States Armygeneral who last served as the commanding general ofUnited States Army Pacific from 2021 to 2024.[2] He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G3/5/7) of the Army Staff from 2019 to 2021.[3] He is the younger brother ofLieutenant GeneralMichael T. Flynn,Donald Trump's firstNational Security Advisor.[1]
Flynn was raised inMiddletown, Rhode Island, and graduated fromMiddletown High School in 1981.[4] Flynn received his commission via theArmy Reserve Officers' Training Corps at theUniversity of Rhode Island in 1985.[4] He earned aBachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Rhode Island in 1985.[4]
Flynn received aMaster of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from theNaval War College in 1997 and aMaster of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School within theJoint Forces Staff College ofNational Defense University.[4]
At the start of his career, Flynn became qualified as anInfantry officer.[5] In addition, he completed theRanger,Airborne, andPathfinder 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 forOperation Enduring Freedom andOperation Iraqi Freedom.[5] He deployed to Iraq again as commander of1st 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 ofInternational 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 theUnited States Army Combined Arms Center.[5]
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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) forUnited States Army Forces Command.[5] He commanded the 25th Infantry Division from 2014 to 2016, then was assigned as deputy commander ofUnited 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]
On 30 November 2020, his nomination for promotion togeneral was submitted to theU.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 named Flynn as the next commander of theUnited States Army Pacific atFort Shafter in Honolulu.[7] He assumed that command in a change of command ceremony atFort Shafter,Hawaii on 4 June 2021.[8]
Flynn retired in 2024.[9] In June 2024, Flynn was appointed an honoraryOfficer of the Order of Australia, for distinguished service in fostering and deepening the military relationship between Australia and the United States of America.[10]
During the2021 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 GeneralWalter E. Piatt, Director of theArmy Staff, said he could not recommend the request be approved.[11] 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.[12] In early December 2021, ColonelEarl G. Matthews released a memo that accused Flynn of making willful distortions of the events of 6 January, describing Flynn and Piatt as "absolute and unmitigated liars" and of giving “perjured testimony before Congress”.[13] 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.[12]
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 | Expert Infantryman Badge |
 | Overseas Service Bar (x7) |
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Deputy Commanding General for Operations of the82nd Airborne Division 2012–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by ??? | Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Readiness of theUnited States Army Forces Command 2013–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the25th Infantry Division 2014–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Commanding General (South) of theUnited States Army Pacific 2016–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of theUnited States Army 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of theUnited States Army 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of United States Army Pacific 2021–2024 | Succeeded by |
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