Brian E. Kinsella

Brian E. Kinsella
Born	1983 Howell Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, military veteran, financial analyst
Years active	2000s–present
Known for	Co-founder of Stop Soldier Suicide; mental health and suicide prevention advocacy for U.S. military personnel and veterans

Brian E. Kinsella (born 1983) is an American entrepreneur, military veteran, and former financial analyst. He is a prominent advocate for mental health and suicide prevention programs targeting U.S. military personnel and veterans.

Kinsella served as an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of captain. His contributions to the Army earned him the Meritorious Public Service Medal.

He is a co-founder of the nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide.

Early life and education

Raised in Howell Township, New Jersey, Kinsella completed his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated as a distinguished military graduate through the ROTC program. During his college years, he endured the tragic loss of a roommate who was fatally stabbed by an intruder.

Military career

Kinsella held the position of U.S. Army captain and detachment commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq. He also contributed significantly to relief efforts in Port-au-Prince, Haiti following the 2010 earthquake as part of Operation Unified Response. There, he worked closely with the Commanding General of the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (XVIII Airborne Corps), the Global Response Force (GRF), and US Southern Command. In this role, he facilitated communication between Staff Sergeant Theirry Alexandre, the State Department, and the Department of Defense to assist in securing the evacuation of Alexandre’s daughter who was trapped.

Following his military tenure, Kinsella co-established Stop Soldier Suicide.

Financial services career

After leaving active duty in 2010, Kinsella transitioned into finance, initially joining BNP Paribas as a financial analyst. In 2013, he moved to Goldman Sachs, where his focus was on the energy sector. Upon departing Goldman Sachs in 2018, he dedicated greater attention to supporting veterans struggling with mental health and reintegration challenges.

Nonprofit leadership, mental health advocacy, and veteran support

From 2010 until 2017, Kinsella served as chief executive officer of Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS) and continues to volunteer as Chairman of its board. Alongside fellow veterans Nick Black and Craig Gridelli, he founded SSS with a mission to assist veterans confronting PTSD, financial difficulties, and housing instability, aiming to lower veteran suicide rates.

One notable program under his leadership is the Black Box Project, which employs forensic technology to examine digital data from devices belonging to deceased service members. This initiative uncovers behavioral patterns that help detect early warning signs of suicidal ideation, playing a crucial role in suicide prevention within the veteran population.

Kinsella spearheaded awareness efforts including the 2012 "Ride for Life," a nationwide motorcycle journey visiting military bases across the United States. He also organized "Night for Life" fundraising events aboard the USS Intrepid in 2013, 2014, and 2016, fostering partnerships between veterans and Wall Street firms to raise funds for veteran-related causes.

His advocacy extends to promoting veteran-focused media; in 2016, he supported and hosted a screening of the Emmy Award-nominated documentary Almost Sunrise.

In August 2021, amid the Kabul evacuation during U.S. troop withdrawal, Kinsella volunteered with the Commercial Task Force to assist in evacuating vulnerable Afghans and stranded Americans. Operating from the Peacock Lounge at Washington D.C.’s Willard InterContinental Hotel, he managed evacuation lists that contributed to relocating up to 5,000 individuals from Kabul safely.

Honors and awards

On April 25, 2019, Kinsella was honored with the Meritorious Public Service Medal by U.S. Army Chief of Staff Mark A. Milley in recognition of his commitment and exemplary service.