Brian E. Kinsella

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Brian E. Kinsella
Born (1983-11-11) November 11, 1983 (age 40)
New Jersey, United States
AwardsMeritorious Public Service Medal
Alma materJohns Hopkins University

Brian E. Kinsella is an American veteran, and veteran advocate,[1] entrepreneur, and former financial analyst, known for his contributions to the realm of military and veteran mental health, as well as suicide prevention initiatives.[2]

He served as an active-duty U.S. Army Officer, attaining the rank of Captain, and emerged as a figure[3] in diverse initiatives dedicated to the well-being of military personnel and veterans.[1][4]

He specifically focuses on military and veteran mental health and suicide prevention initiatives[3]. His commitment to this cause is embodied through the nonprofit organization he co-founded, Stop Soldier Suicide[2].

Evacuation of civilians in Afghanistan (August, 2021)

A notable event happened in August 2021, amid the tumultuous fall of the Afghan government and the subsequent withdrawal of U.S. troops, followed by the resurgence of the Taliban, where Kinsella played a pivotal role in aiding the evacuation of high-risk Afghans, including American citizens stranded in the country. This crucial initiative was instigated by Zach Van Meter, a private-equity investor, who advocated for hosting Afghan refugees in Berbera, Somaliland, on the Gulf of Aden. The pressing need to evacuate approximately 3,500 Afghan children from Kabul propelled this movement.[5][6]

The unfolding crisis in Afghanistan, characterized by the rapid takeover of the Taliban, left numerous Afghan citizens in dire need of assistance. Leveraging his background as a former Army Captain acknowledged for relief work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Kinsella promptly volunteered, undertaking the monumental task of managing lists of hundreds of individuals.[6] His primary focus was on prioritizing U.S. citizens, green cardholders, and high-risk Afghans. This coordinated effort involved collaborating with various groups of volunteers, encompassing war veterans, Afghan diplomats, generous donors, defense contractors, nonprofit workers, and off-duty U.S. officials, collectively known as the "Commercial Task Force."[6]

The collective mission of this group was to provide aid and support to Afghan citizens grappling with increasingly perilous circumstances due to the Taliban's control. Operating within stringent timelines and constraints of limited resources, they executed a global, military-style rescue operation from the Peacock Lounge at the Willard InterContinental hotel in Washington, D.C. The operation aimed to extract Afghans utilizing diverse means such as land routes, helicopters, and airlifts, with the objective of offering temporary shelter in Abu Dhabi and exploring resettlement opportunities in various countries.[1][2][7][8]

This grassroots initiative was spearheaded by Zach Van Meter and Jim Linder, with facilitation by Kinsella[6]. Their efforts and dedication culminated in the successful evacuation of as many as 5,000 evacuees from Kabul[5], underscoring one of many larger initiatives Kinsella is actively engaged in.[5]

Early life and education

Brian E. Kinsella completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2005, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the university’s ROTC program. During his sophomore year at Johns Hopkins University, Kinsella encountered a tragic event. His housemate, Chris Elser[9], fell victim to a brutal attack, succumbing to fatal injuries inflicted by a stranger while sleeping.[9] He managed to wake up Kinsella, who held Eisner in his arms, while he said: “I tried, I fought” [9], before he was brought to the hospital, where he later died. This tragic incident profoundly impacted Kinsella, serving as a catalyst for his unwavering dedication to a life of service.[10]

Career

Following the 9/11 attacks, Kinsella was deeply affected and decided to serve in the United States military. He commissioned in 2006 and saw deployment in multiple capacities. He served in Baghdad, Iraq as U.S. Army Captain and Detachment Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He also served in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he played a key role to the Commanding General of the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (XVIII Airborne Corps) and the Global Response Force (GRF), and US Southern Command during Operation Unified Response, after the 2010 earthquake. While in Port-au-Prince, Kinsella acted as the liaison between Staff Sergeant Theirry Alexandre and the State Department, and the Department of Defense, to expedite the departure of his daughter who was trapped in Haiti.[11]

Kinsella was also stationed in Germany, Italy, and Fort Knox[12]

During his service, Kinsella was deeply impacted by another near-tragedy, when a fellow soldier attempted to commit suicide[10]. After his service ended, Kinsella co-founded the non-profit organization Stop Soldier Suicide.[2][13]

His career in Financial Services

In 2010, subsequent to his military service, Kinsella additionally, transitioned into the finance sector, initially serving as a financial analyst at BNP Paribas. He later joined Goldman Sachs in 2013, focusing on the energy sector. Upon concluding his tenure at Goldman Sachs in 2018, Kinsella heightened his involvement in aiding veterans grappling with post-service challenges, particularly focusing on mental health issues observed through the years of non-profit work for veterans[14]. He especially began focusing on solutions to solve for the growing mental health problems.[1][15]

Non-profit, mental healthcare and veteran advocacy

Kinsella currently holds the position of Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Rappore[15], a therapy services and medication management tele-health company based in New York. He also serves as an advisory board member[16] at Roberts & Ryan Investments, while actively engaging in ongoing or immediate humanitarian initiatives.

When, Kinsella co-founded Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS), headquartered in Durham, North Carolina in 2010, he did it alongside co-founders Nick Black and Craig Gridelli[17]. This organization is dedicated to providing veterans with resources to cope with PTSD, financial difficulties, and housing challenges, ultimately striving to reduce the rate of veteran suicides. The inception of "SSS" was fueled by the founders' personal experiences[18] with soldiers struggling with mental health issues and suicidal tendencies.[1][2][10][19]

Among noteworthy initiatives they have taken on, is the Black Box Project,[20] employing forensic software to retrospectively study the digital activities of deceased service members, providing valuable insights for potential preventive measures. The organization collaborates with notable institutions like the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to offer specialized care to veterans.[2][7][21][10][19][4][3][22]

Kinsella himself, volunteered to serve as Chief Executive Officer from 2010 to 2017 and continues to serve as Chairman of the board as a volunteer. He also holds positions on several boards across healthcare, financial services, and technology organizations, underscoring his dedication to various spheres and causes. [1][2][10][19]

Kinsella actively raises awareness for the cause, demonstrated through initiatives like the "Ride for Life"[7] campaign in 2012[23], where he motorcycle-toured to U.S. military bases across the country. [7][24] Additionally, in 2013, he organized the "Night for Life" event on The Intrepid [25], a fundraiser for veteran causes, in collaboration with veterans, Wall Street firms, and Derek Wallis. The "Night for Life" event was held again in 2015[26] and 2016.[10]

Honors and awards

In recognition of his relentless service and dedication, Kinsella was awarded the Meritorious Public Service medal by the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Mark A. Milley, on April 25, 2019.[27]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Ex-Goldman Sachs analyst: Help veterans by finding them jobs". Yahoo Finance. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Roche, Julia La. "Meet The Goldman Sachs Analyst Who Spends Every Free Moment Fighting To End Soldier Suicide". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dimmick, Iris (2023-06-29). "USAA-backed coalition launches $41M veteran suicide fund". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Searching for clues to help save soldiers' lives". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Brigid Kennedy (2021-08-30). "A private operation run out of a hotel conference room has helped evacuate approximately 5,000 Afghan refugees". theweek. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Kesling, Ben; Phillips, Michael M. (2021-08-30). "Trapped in Afghanistan, Rescued by Volunteers: How a Handful of Americans Freed 5,000 Afghans". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 La Roche, Julia. "Meet The Soldier-Turned-I-Banker Spending His Entire Vacation Riding A Motorcycle Across The Country For Charity". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  8. ↑ "Americans in Afghanistan face hard choice of dividing their families". CBS News. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Deep sadness at Hopkins". Baltimore Sun. 2004-04-21. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Craig, Victoria (2016-01-07). "Wall Street Military Veterans Team Up in a Night for Life". FOXBusiness. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  11. ↑ "Fort Knox's newest import adjusting to American life". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  12. ↑ McDonough, Jennifer (2019-11-08). "Roberts & Ryan Investments Proudly Welcomes Brian Kinsella, Veteran US Army Officer and Co-Founder of Stop Soldier Suicide to Its Advisory Board". PRNewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-10-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ Taber, Linley (2015-05-18). "You don't need to be a drill sergeant to run your workday like one". New York Post. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  14. ↑ Smith, Jerry. "Delawareans push to stop soldier suicide". The News Journal. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Brian Kinsella, | Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer in Upper East Side, New York, NY". Rappore. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  16. ↑ "Brian Kinsella | Stop Soldier Suicide Co-Founder and Chairman". A Service Disabled Veteran Broker Dealer. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  17. ↑ "Stop Soldier Suicide". Stop Soldier Suicide. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  18. ↑ Evans, Martin C. (2020-11-12). "Reducing Military Suicides". Arts & Sciences Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Veteran on Mission: Stop Soldier Suicides". Associated Press. 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ Denis, Toni (2022-12-05). "Black Box Project Uses AI to Prevent Suicide - Seeflection.com". Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  21. ↑ Evans, Martin C. (2020-11-12). "Reducing Military Suicides". Arts & Sciences Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  22. ↑ Stilwell, Blake (2023-07-12). "How USAA's Face the Fight Is Building a Coalition to Combat Veteran Suicide". Military.com. Retrieved 2023-10-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ "Veteran riding across the country to help other vets". KSWO. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  24. ↑ Newcomb, Alyssa. "Former Commander Motorcycling Across U.S. to Stop Soldier Suicide". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  25. ↑ Roche, Julia La. "Inside The Big Charity Party On The Intrepid Last Night Hosted By Wall Streeters". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  26. ↑ Al-Kateb, Zahra (2015-06-03). "A Night for Life: A Fundraising Event at the Intrepid Museum". Elite Traveler. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  27. ↑ "Brian Kinsella Receives MPSM". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-10-04.

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