User:MBrody2001/sandbox

Bryan Flannagan (born 12th of July 1990) is a Scottish Conservative Party politician and former Royal Naval Officer. He was elected to Stirling Council in May 2017.

Background and Military Career
Flannagan was born in Stirling, Scotland and educated at Lornshill Academy before joining the Royal Navy as an officer cadet in September 2008. He completed initial officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Devon and was commissioned into the fleet as a Midshipman in August 2009.

His first sea appointment were onboard the Albion-class assault ship, HMS Bulwark (L15), in 2009 and to HMS Cumberland (F85), a Type-22 Frigate deployed to the Indian Ocean on anti-piracy duties as part of Operation Atalanta. In 2010 he joined the newly commissioned Type-45 Destroyer, HMS Daring (D32), during her initial sea trials before completing his specialist warfare and navigation training at the Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood. After 6 months of training he was awarded his navigational watch certificate.

Upon being promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 2011, he was selected to represent the Royal Navy during a 6 month exchange programme with the Republic of Singapore Navy.

In 2012, Flannagan volunteered for service in the Royal Navy Submarine Service and began initial submarine training at HMS Raleigh before joining the nuclear powered submarine, HMS Astute (S119), as a junior warfare officer the same year. His appointment to HMS Astute included 2 deployments to the United States for weapon and capability trials. In 2013 he was promoted to Lieutenant.

Qualifying as a submarine navigator in 2014, Flannagan joined HMS Victorious (S29), one of the UK's 4 Vanguard-class Trident nuclear missile carrying submarines, as the navigation officer. During his 2 years onboard, he completed nuclear deterrence patrols in support of Operation Relentless before undertaking and completing his examinations for command.

His final appointment before leaving the Royal Navy in 2017 was as the Commanding Officer of Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Royal Naval Unit (URNU).

In 2019 he was awarded the 'New Service Leaver of the Year' at the first Ex-Forces in Business Awards held in Glasgow.

Political Career
After joining the Scottish Conservative Party in 2016, he was selected to stand as a candidate in the 2017 Scottish local elections and was elected to Stirling Council in May 2017 after receiving the second highest number of first preference votes. Upon taking his seat, he was made the Armed Forces and Veteran's champion for Stirling.

He is a supporter of Brexit and voted for the UK to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.