The University of Rhode Island congratulates retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn on his appointment by President-elect Donald Trump as national security advisor.  A 1981 URI College of Business Administration graduate, Flynn has more than three decades of service at the highest levels of the U.S. intelligence community. The three-star general led the multinational intelligence effort in Afghanistan and served as the 18th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2012 to 2014.

Raised in Rhode Island, the nationally known expert on intelligence, cyber, special operations and security has, for many years, brought his insights home to share with students, faculty and area businesses attending URI’s annual high profile Cybersecurity Symposium.

The recipient of four bronze star medals, Flynn also received the US Intelligence Community’s Gold Seal Medallion, the Service to America Award from the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the US Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award, and was the first non-Navy recipient of the distinguished RADM Edwin T. Layton Award as well as numerous other medals and awards for his service to nation.

In addition to his undergraduate degree from URI, Flynn received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from URI in 2014. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration in Telecommunications, from Golden Gate University, San Francisco; a Masters in the Military Arts and Sciences from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C. He resides with his family in Washington, D.C.

We offer our best wishes to Gen. Flynn and his entire family as he embarks on this new phase of his long and distinguished career.