Brian Birdwell

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Brian Birdwell

| image = Brian Birdwell AFC Army Birthday Celebration (cropped).jpg

| caption = Birdwell in 2023

| state_senate = Texas

| district = 22nd

| term_start = July 2, 2010

| term_end =

| predecessor = Kip Averitt

| successor =

| office1 = President pro tempore of the Texas Senate

| term_start1 = January 12, 2021

| term_end1 = May 31, 2021

| predecessor1 = Joan Huffman

| successor1 = Donna Campbell

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|11|3}}

| birth_place = Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse =

| children = 1

| education = Lamar University (BS)
University of Missouri–Kansas City (MPA)

| website = {{url|brianbirdwell.net|Campaign website}}

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{army|United States}}

| serviceyears = 1984–2001

| rank = Lieutenant Colonel

| mawards = Purple Heart
Legion of Merit

}}

Brian Douglas Birdwell{{Cite web |last=Ramsey |first=Ross |date=2010-07-28 |title=One Man, Two Votes |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2010/07/28/texas-senators-voting-residency-questioned/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}} (born November 3, 1961){{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/directory/brian-birdwell/|title=Brian Birdwell personal profile|publisher=texastribune.org|access-date=September 11, 2010}} is an American politician who has served in the Texas Senate for District 22 since 2010. He is a survivor of the September 11, 2001 attacks against The Pentagon.

Early life and education

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Birdwell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology from Lamar University in 1984 and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 1996.{{Cite web|title=The Texas State Senate – Senator Brian Birdwell: District 22|url=https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=22|access-date=2020-11-09|website=senate.texas.gov}}

Career

On September 11, 2001, Birdwell was working with the United States Army at The Pentagon. He was just leaving a restroom when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Birdwell was badly burned by the ensuing fire.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/9-11-20-years-later/2021/09/11/-the-impact-should-have-killed-me---texas-senator-recalls-9-11-pentagon-attack-|title='The impact should have killed me': Texas senator recalls 9/11 Pentagon attack|date=September 11, 2021 |publisher=Spectrum News|access-date=February 17, 2023}} Two days after being injured, Birdwell met President George W. Bush.{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/glurge/birdwell.asp|title=Birdwell saluted|date=December 27, 2001 |publisher=snopes.com|access-date=September 11, 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/07/28/he-always-wondered-if-man-he-helped-911-had-lived/|title=Senator Brian Birdwell Finally Gets Chance to Thank Man who Helped Him on 9/11|last=Post|first=Colby Itkowitz, The Washington|date=2016-07-28|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}} Rob Maness, a United States Air Force officer who rescued Birdwell, learned about Birdwell's identity only when they met at the 2016 Republican National Convention.{{cite news|author=Mark Ballard|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/article_956d6a58-51e2-11e6-b87d-ab5ece7324fb.html|title=U.S. Senate candidate Rob Maness meets Texas senator he helped save on 9-11 when both were soldiers|date=July 24, 2016|newspaper=The Baton Rouge Advocate|access-date=July 25, 2016}}

He holds a Purple Heart and a Legion of Merit.{{cite web|url=http://www.brianbirdwell.net/about.htm|title=Brian Birdwell|publisher=brianbirdwell.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020052829/http://brianbirdwell.net/about.htm|archive-date=October 20, 2010|access-date=September 11, 2010|df=mdy-all}}

Political positions

=Elections=

He defeated David Sibley in a June 22, 2010 special election, replacing Kip Averitt.{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-senaterunoff_23tex.ART.State.Edition1.29c8630.html|title=Gulf War vet Brian Birdwell wins runoff for Central Texas state Senate seat|publisher=Dallas Morning News, June 23, 2010|access-date=September 11, 2010}}

Birdwell won the 2010 general election unopposed.{{cite news|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/08/brian-birdwell-stays-on-the-ba.html|title=Christy Hoppe, Brian Birdwell Stays on the Ballot, August 19, 2010|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|access-date=September 11, 2010|date=August 22, 2010}}

=Legislation sponsored=

In February 2017, Birdwell sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 2, which calls for a convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution. The resolution "seeks amendments that place restraints on the federal budget and check power and enact term limits for U.S. officials."{{cite news|last1=Pollock|first1=Cassandra|title=Texas Senate approves convention of states legislation|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/28/convention-states-legislation-passes-texas-senate-house/|access-date=10 April 2017|work=Texas Tribune|date=February 28, 2017}} Senate Joint Resolution 2 was passed by both chambers of the Texas Legislature. In May 2017, Birdwell sponsored a bill outlining the duties and limits of Texas delegates should a convention of states occur. It was approved by the Texas House and sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.{{cite news|last1=Pollock|first1=Cassandra|title=Convention of states-related bill hits Gov. Greg Abbott's desk|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/27/prewrite-convention-states-related-bill-hits-gov-greg-abbotts-desk/|access-date=30 May 2017|work=Texas Tribune|date=May 27, 2017}}

Personal life

He has one son{{cite web |last1=Hastings |first1=Paul |title=9/11 Survivor at the Pentagon |url=https://compelledpodcast.com/episodes/brian-birdwell |website=Compelled Podcast |access-date=6 September 2023}} with his wife.