Lieutenant Colonel Flanery first entered the Marine Corps via the Marine Corps Reserve. He enlisted in November of 1985 and graduated from Recruit Training in San Diego, California in September 1986 and Infantry Training School, Camp Pendleton, California in November 1986. He was assigned duties as a rifleman in “A” Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines in Houston, Texas and finished his tour there as a Corporal Squad Leader.
He received his commission by attending the Platoon Leaders Course in 1987 and 1988 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1989. His initial officer’s training at The Basic School occurred in October 1989 and once completed he attended the Infantry Officers Course as well.
Following training in Quantico he reported as a TAD OSO in College Station, Texas until September of 1990 when he commenced Naval Aviator training in Pensacola, Florida. He completed his training in Corpus Christi, Texas and was winged in January of 1992. He completed training in the KC-130 Hercules with VMGRT-253, 2nd MAW in Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he served as the Ground Training Officer.
1st Lieutenant Flanery reported for fleet duty in February 1993 to VMGR-152, 1st MAW in Okinawa, Japan. During this tour he served as the squadron Legal Officer and then as Quality Assurance Officer and Assistant Airframes Officer.
Returning from duty overseas Captain Flanery attended the Aviation Safety Officers Course in Monterey, California in February 1995. He then proceeded for duty with VMGR-252, 2nd MAW in Cherry Point, North Carolina. Upon reporting he was assigned duty as the squadron Aviation Safety Officer. While serving in that capacity he attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor’s course and subsequently served as the squadron’s Aircrew Training Officer and Weapons and Tactics Instructor.
Captain Flanery then transferred for duty to MAWTS-1 Yuma, Arizona in August 1997 for duty as the KC-130 division head where he served in that capacity for seven WTI classes.
Major Flanery was once again assigned to VMGR-152, 1st MAW in December of 2000. He served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer until December 2002. Upon completion of duties at the squadron he was assigned to the 1st MAW staff as the Wing Training Officer until January of 2004.
At the completion of his Okinawa tour Major Flanery was transferred to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia for duty in the G-3/5/7 Current Operations Air Cell as the Air Operations Officer (fixed wing). During this tour he deployed as an individual augment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM for nine months where he served on the Multi-National Corps Iraq (MNC-I) C3 plans staff as a planner, and later as the MNC-I Chief Liaison Officer to the United Kingdom lead Multi-National Division Southeast. It was during this tour that he was promoted to his present rank. Returning from Iraq he reassumed the duties of fixed wing Air Operations Officer along with duties as the Flight Hour Program coordinator for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command.
In January of 2007 he was assigned to MAG-49 Det B at Stewart Air National Guard Base New York. He assumed Inspector/Instructor, MAG-49 Det B, and Site Command duties in June 2007.
He relinquished command in June 2009 and then attended the Joint Combined Warfare School in Norfolk Va. He then assumed duties in the HQ USEUCOM J-5 Plans Division as the Plans Development branch chief at U.S. European Command in Stuttgart Germany.
His last posting was to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea in August of 2012 where he served in the AC/S G-3.
Lieutenant Colonel Flanery holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal.