Brian E. Kinsella

Kinsella spent his childhood in Howell Township, New Jersey.{{Cite press release |last= |first= |title=Roberts & Ryan Investments Proudly Welcomes Brian Kinsella, Veteran US Army Officer and Co-Founder of Stop Soldier Suicide to Its Advisory Board |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roberts--ryan-investments-proudly-welcomes-brian-kinsella-veteran-us-army-officer-and-co-founder-of-stop-soldier-suicide-to-its-advisory-board-300954404.html |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Johns Hopkins University, where he was recognized as a distinguished military graduate of the University's Reserve Officers' Training Corps program (ROTC).{{Cite web |title=Headlines@Hopkins: Johns Hopkins University News Releases |url=https://pages.jh.edu/news_info/news/home05/may05/elser.html |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=pages.jh.edu}} During his second year at Johns Hopkins University, one of Kinsella's housemates was stabbed by an intruder and succumbed of his injuries.{{Cite web |date=2004-04-21 |title=Deep sadness at Hopkins |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2004-04-21-0404210187-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010142857/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2004-04-21-0404210187-story.html |archive-date=2023-10-10 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Baltimore Sun}}

Kinsella served in the U.S. Army in Baghdad, Iraq, as a captain and detachment commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He also served in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he played a key role with 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, the State Department, and the Department of Defense to expedite the departure of Alexandre's daughter, who was trapped in Haiti.{{Cite web |title=Fort Knox's newest import adjusting to American life |url=https://www.army.mil/article/36771/fort_knoxs_newest_import_adjusting_to_american_life |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.army.mil |date=2 April 2010 |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010102749/https://www.army.mil/article/36771/fort_knoxs_newest_import_adjusting_to_american_life |url-status=live }}

After his service ended, Kinsella co-founded the non-profit organization Stop Soldier Suicide.

In 2010, subsequent to his military service, Kinsella transitioned into the finance sector, working as a financial analyst at BNP Paribas.{{Cite web |last=Newcomb |first=Alyssa |title=Former Commander Motorcycling Across U.S. to Stop Soldier Suicide |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/commander-motorcycling-us-stop-soldier-suicide/story?id=17329463 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010102749/https://abcnews.go.com/US/commander-motorcycling-us-stop-soldier-suicide/story?id=17329463 |archive-date=2023-10-10 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=ABC News |language=en}} He later joined Goldman Sachs in 2013, focusing on the energy sector. Upon concluding his tenure at Goldman Sachs in 2018, Kinsella increased his involvement in aiding veterans grappling with post-service challenges, particularly focusing on mental health issues.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jerry |date=2023-10-03 |title=Delawareans push to stop soldier suicide |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2016/09/30/delawareans-push-stop-soldier-suicide/91291344/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124014518/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2016/09/30/delawareans-push-stop-soldier-suicide/91291344/ |archive-date=2022-01-24 |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=The News Journal |language=en-US}}

File:Brian E. Kinsella and Mark Milley.png

During the years from 2010 to 2017, Kinsella volunteered to serve as chief executive officer for Stop Soldier Suicide and continues to serve as Chairman of the board on a volunteer basis.

Kinsella co-founded Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS), headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, in 2010 with co-founders Nick Black and Craig Gridelli, who also served in the military. This organization provides veterans with resources to cope with PTSD, financial difficulties, and housing challenges, ultimately striving to reduce the rate of Veteran suicides.

Among groundbreaking initiatives is the Black Box Project,{{Cite web |title=Nonprofit uses A.I. to help save veterans' lives |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/nonprofit-uses-a-i-to-help-save-veterans-lives-153582149698 |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216093902/https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/nonprofit-uses-a-i-to-help-save-veterans-lives-153582149698 |url-status=live }} employing forensic software to retrospectively study the digital activities of deceased service members' cellphones and computers, which provide valuable behavioral insights used for potential preventive measures. The Black Box Project has recently gained more attention, due to the positive effects it has had in preventing suicides within the military veteran community by detecting signs of suicidal thoughts earlier.{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Em |date=2023-11-12 |title=Nonprofit seeks insight from devices left behind by veterans who died by suicide |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/nonprofit-seeks-insight-devices-left-veterans-died-suicide/story?id=103506378 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=ABC News |language=en}}

Other initiatives Kinsella has undertaken to raise awareness, include the "Ride for Life"{{Cite web |last=La Roche |first=Julia |title=Meet The Soldier-Turned-I-Banker Spending His Entire Vacation Riding A Motorcycle Across The Country For Charity |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/stop-soldier-suicide-ride-for-life-2012-9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010102749/https://www.businessinsider.com/stop-soldier-suicide-ride-for-life-2012-9 |archive-date=2023-10-10 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} campaign in 2012, where he motorcycle-toured to U.S. military bases across the country. Additionally, in 2013, he organized the "Night for Life" event on the USS Intrepid,{{Cite web |last=La Roche |first=Julia |title=Inside The Big Charity Party On The Intrepid Last Night Hosted By Wall Streeters |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/stop-soldier-suicide-night-for-life-intrepid-2013-5 |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=2016-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506182545/http://www.businessinsider.com/stop-soldier-suicide-night-for-life-intrepid-2013-5 |url-status=live }} a fundraiser for veteran causes, in collaboration with veterans, Wall Street firms, and Derek Wallis. The "Night for Life" event was held again in 2014 and 2016.{{Cite web |last=Craig |first=Victoria |date=2016-01-07 |title=Wall Street Military Veterans Team Up in a Night for Life |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/wall-street-military-veterans-team-up-in-a-night-for-life |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010142547/https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/wall-street-military-veterans-team-up-in-a-night-for-life |archive-date=2023-10-10 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}

Other involvement for veteran awareness include a public endorsement and hosting a screening for the Emmy Award-nominated documentary (2018): Almost Sunrise, in 2016.{{Cite web |title=Veterans |url=https://sunrisedocumentary.com/veterans/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Almost Sunrise Documentary |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601121735/https://sunrisedocumentary.com/veterans/ |url-status=live }}

In August 2021, amid the fall of the Afghan government and the subsequent withdrawal of U.S. troops, followed by the resurgence of the Taliban, Kinsella volunteered in the Commercial Task Force group of volunteer civilians, aiding the evacuation of high-risk Afghans, including American citizens stranded in the country.{{Cite news |last1=Kesling |first1=Ben |last2=Phillips |first2=Michael M. |date=2021-08-30 |title=Trapped in Afghanistan, Rescued by Volunteers: How a Handful of Americans Freed 5,000 Afghans |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trapped-in-afghanistan-rescued-by-volunteers-how-a-handful-of-americans-freed-5-000-afghans-11630284116 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010104841/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trapped-in-afghanistan-rescued-by-volunteers-how-a-handful-of-americans-freed-5-000-afghans-11630284116 |archive-date=2023-10-10 |issn=0099-9660}}

Kinsella undertook the role of managing lists of hundreds of individuals from the Peacock Lounge at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C. Combined total efforts culminated in the evacuation of as many as 5,000 evacuees from Kabul.

In recognition of his 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.

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Category:Living people

Category:1983 births

Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni

Category:United States Army officers

Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War

Category:Goldman Sachs people

Category:American financial analysts

Category:American health care chief executives

Category:American veterans activists

Category:People from Howell Township, New Jersey

Category:Recipients of United States civil awards and decorations