Anthony "Coach Tony" O'Brien, former Navy officer, candidate for County Commissioner
Election 2026. Anthony O’Brien is a candidate for Plymouth County Commissioner in the Republican Primary election against four-term incumbent Commissioner Sandra Wright. Of the 3 Commissioners, she is the most senior finishing her fourth term and 16 years.
Thank you to our team who continue to campaign for him spreading the word at meetings and events with thousands of voters. Please keep spreading the word.
County Commissioner Sandra Wright, when will you pay back the money? Stop the scam, Sandra! (She’s paid $3,000 per hour, see investigation below.)
O’Brien is trying to give voters reasons to vote and vote for change. Please pay attention to this race and consider supporting him.
The only accountability for an elected official is elections. Most incumbents do not have challengers. Who can blame people for not running? It’s not easy.
In a reelection campaign, the top issue is the incumbent’s record. Of course, the incumbent and challenger highlight their own strengths. But if that is the entire campaign then almost no challenger will win. If so, then why have elections at all? Part of the challenger’s message has to highlight weaknesses in the incumbent’s record so voters can decide the importance of any weaknesses and whether to hold the incumbent accountable or not.
Families are cutting back on groceries, businesses are closing, and towns are seeking overrides to raise taxes. Thousands are being laid-off. But, don’t worry, Commissioner Wright is receiving $3,000 per hour in pay. O’Brien says “Giving away free money? To herself? Maybe Wright is actually a Democrat?”
If you wish to skip to the top highlight of this race, with incumbent Commissioner Sandra Wright receiving an amazing salary of $3,000 per hour (that’s not a typo) for a very small, almost do-nothing, taxpayer-funded elected position (even Mass. General Law strongly implies the duties are very small, more on that later), please cut-and-paste the link to your browser to view:
https://southshoretimes.com/towns/plymouth-county-commissioners-pay-rose-by-73-since-2020
O’Brien is grateful to South Shore Times for their excellent investigative journalism.
To contact him with sign locations and/or with info about meetings and events he should attend and speak at, please contact him at cell-text (508) 868-2547.
To donate to the campaign, please cut-and-paste this link into your browser:
https://secure.winred.com/committee-to-elect-anthony-o-brien/donate-today
Thank you for your support in any way!
O’Brien’s background. O'Brien is a lifelong Christian, conservative, Dad, veteran, community volunteer, and longtime manager and executive. He is known for conservative policies and budgets focusing on the Constitution, helping others, and fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse emphasizing proper spending and less taxes.
O’Brien’s experience includes serving as a County Commissioner during 2009-2013. He did not run for reelection since he and Staci had 2 babies at the time.
He also served as a member of the town Advisory (Finance) Committee who oversee the town budget and make recommendations to Town Meeting.
He earned a Business degree from Stonehill College.
With decades of experience, he is considered a teamwork subject matter expert on budgets, personnel, and facility matters for both public and private sectors.
More info about his family and career can be found on facebook and LinkedIn.
Note: in 2013, the Commissioner’s annual salary was $7,500. Although the South Shore Times correctly reported that the Commissioners’ salaries increased by 73% since 2020, a highlight of this election is Commissioner Sandra Wright’s salary has increased 420% from $7,500 to $39,000 in 13 years. Those amazing numbers are not typos. Who do you know who has had that unprecedented increase? No one.
What and who is the County Commissioner? No one knows!
Since deciding to run in February and in talking with many hundreds of voters, that is the top question by far that O’Brien has been asked by voters.
Clearly that is a strong indicator that incumbent Commissioner Sandra Wright is not doing her small job properly and does not deserve reelection.
Before you hear the biggest news about the world’s highest pay rate for the state’s smallest office and almost do-nothing position, some background is necessary.
Background on the office. County Commissioner is the smallest government office led by an elected official in the state. The duties are so few that it is often referred to as a “do-little” or “almost do-nothing” job. When asked what the Commissioner does, the incumbent has said that it is like a “County Selectman.” That is true since the very limited part-time responsibility is to meet monthly to discuss executive issues and sign related documents. That’s it, like a Selectman.
But a Town Selectman has 10 times more responsibilities – 10 times budget, personnel, facilities - and a salary of ZERO while County Selectman Sandra Wright receives a $39,000 salary!
As an incumbent for 16 years, Sandra Wright is the most senior Commissioner.
Sounds like Wright is actually wrong!?
Like many “part-time” elected officials (which is most elected officials), the county commissioners have full-time day jobs.
The Commissioner’s responsibilities being very small is not a bad thing by itself. It’s how it’s been for decades. But misrepresenting it like it’s a bigger job is clearly WRONG especially if one wants to unjustly profit from an outrageous salary for a very small, almost do-nothing position.
Mass. has 14 counties. In the 1990s, the state determined that 8 of 14 county governments were not necessary and they were abolished. Those 8 counties have no county government so no County Commissioners.
The 2 VERY SMALL primary duties of our Commissioner are executive oversight of the Register of Deeds and executive oversight of the 3 county courthouses, specifically the custodian in each courthouse. That’s it!
Again, in 8 counties with abolished county governments, these executive functions at the county level were abolished and transferred to the state. The state has staff already in place for Registers and courthouses so there’s an obvious cost savings.
The Register of Deeds is a full-time six-figure salary executive position that does not have county-level executive oversight by County Selectmen in 8 of 14 counties. The Register of Deeds has a strong full-time staff and the largest department in county government.
The Commissioners also have a strong full-time staff led by a County Administrator who prepares their agenda and documents for their meetings.
Almost all the other duties of county government are performed by the offices managed by the County Treasurer who is also a full-time six-figure executive, with strong staffs, who does not need executive oversight by County Selectmen.
That’s it. 1-2 meetings monthly, discuss issues, sign documents, end of meeting.
O’Brien is best qualified to question and do the jobsince he served previously as County Commissioner. He knows the duties and responsibilities with almost nothing changing in the last 13 years (except Commissioner’s salary), and he can confirm that Commissioner Wright receiving $3,000 per hour for a $39,000 salary is one of the most outrageous and embarrassing examples of government Waste, Fraud, and Abuse we’ve ever seen!
So with a massive contrast between the Town Selectmen greater hours (weekly) and ZERO pay and the County Selectmen/Commissioners’ much less hours (monthly) and much greater pay ($3,000 per hour) for a very small, almost do-nothing position, how come we are not hearing about this from County Commissioner Wright? She is supposed to be a leader, right? Do the right thing, right?
Can Plymouth County claim to have the world’s highest pay rate for ANY elected official, and 99% of any other people with income, that is in the state’s smallest government office led by an elected official? (And some really bad problems for such a small operation that deserve the opposite of any historic pay raises.)
Sadly, and embarrassingly, Yes. But fortunately, on Sept. 1, Plymouth County voters can do something about it and fire Commissioner Wright for this disgraceful and classic case of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse of trust of taxpayers and our Republican party.
Because, and one of the worst parts of this significant integrity scandal, obviously she does not want anyone to know about her disgraceful, deceitful, unjust scam profiting from her very small, almost do-nothing position.
Until now.
In February, a local media office called South Shore Times (SouthShoreTimes.com) (SST) did an investigation into and reported on this problem. We are thankful for and proud of their investigative journalism.
Again, this is the link to their Feb. 5 report:
https://southshoretimes.com/towns/plymouth-county-commissioners-pay-rose-by-73-since-2020
In their Feb. 5 report, SST concluded that, in 2025, Commissioner Wright did her only duties of attending meetings for 13 hours total for the year and received a salary of $39,000. That results in a pay rate of $3,000 per hour! That is not a typo. That’s 3 zeroes, per HOUR! Of course, that number is stunning since no one anywhere receives that compensation for any job.
Who does she think she is, a Democrat? Or a Socialist Democrat? The famous Socialist Democrat, recently elected New York City Mayor Mandami, also just got himself a massive pay raise after a few months in office. He gets a salary much less than $3,000 per hour.
So, on behalf of our hard-working, law-abiding taxpaying and voting citizens, challenger O’Brien is asking:
Commissioner Sandra Wright, when will you pay back the unearned money? Stop the salary scam, Sandra!
Unlike Commissioner Wright, we think honesty and trust still matter in Plymouth County! As part of the report, SST contacted Commissioner Wright for a comment to justify or defend her pay. Your County leader, incumbent $3,000 per hour Commissioner Wright, “declined to comment.”
And she hasn’t commented about it since. With 50 days until the Sept. 1 election.
Some incumbents are very good. But where is the accountability for really bad leadership and this outrageous, greedy self-profiting problem?
The only accountability is elections.
This is the top reason Anthony O’Brien is challenging incumbent Commissioner Wright in the Sept. 1 Republican Primary election. We ask for your support of our campaign to defeat a really bad incumbent Commissioner Sandra Wright.
O’Brien has discussed this with many Selectmen and state Reps in the region, both Democrat and Republican. They have thanked O’Brien for taking on this challenge against the deceit of Commissioner Wright’s Waste, Fraud, and Abuse pay problem and they want her defeated!
Are there other problems? Several.
Public relations. Again citizens do not know What the Commissioner does and Who she is? Is that a problem? Of course. Is she hiding something? She was.
Does she do any public relations at all as part of her highly paid but very small duties? Should she? Isn’t that part of the job? Taxpayers and Voters say Yes.
What is she paid? How much? Why? $3,000 per hour? Seriously? Very.
CARES/ARPA funds. Many unanswered questions and issues. This is another area people don’t know about despite Commissioner Wright grandstanding for years in political photo ops with large cardboard checks. Republicans don’t stand for adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the $40T federal debt! As expected, the federal government is investigating for many problems including improper qualifications of projects, improper administration including duplicating functions already at state level, nepotism hiring and raises for officials (including the Commissioners), more money that should have gone to towns, excluding some towns, insufficient legal resources to deal with future problems, and many more; besides the problems with anything related to the COVID scam.
Regional and revenue efforts. Longtime lack of progress in these efforts to improve the long-term contributions and relevancy of county government to our towns. Due to a lack of county leadership by Commissioner Wright, county government has been the subject of longtime jokes and insults in media and political circles. Commissioner Wright’s response: $3,000 per hour!
Historic Budger increase in last year is 9%. From $12 million to a record $13.2 million paid by taxpayers. Did you see this announced by Commissioner Sandra Wright? Justified by Wright? Did you see any increases in revenue here or anywhere to balance this historic budget? To defeat Waste, Fraud, and Abuse requires less spending and less taxes. And it requires the Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Commisioenr Wright to be defeated and replaced by the voters on Sept. 1. Are you seeing a pattern? Wright is wrong again.
Fake Campaign promises. For 16 years every election, Wright has promised to get an increase to the county’s portion of the Deeds fees from the state to improve county revenue. Doesn’t happen. Many promises many elections to lead regionalizing services, water, trash, utilities, alternative energy, etc. Doesn’t happen. Longtime promises to create a Veterans Center to help veterans and their families. Doesn’t happen. Election year stunts insulting our nation’s heroes! Disgusting.
In her hometown of Bridgewater, where she served on the Board of Health and Town Council, we’ve talked with many residents who still complain of brown water problems that she never solved. They are not supporting her and want her out.
In 2024, she ran for an open seat for state Rep, supported by her beloved incumbent Republican state Rep who was retiring, against a weak Democrat and lost.
Usually, candidate wins hometown. O’Brien will be competitive in Bridgewater.
Integrity in her day job. SST reports the County website says she is a CEO of a corporation. Sounds great but wait! SST called the company who said they never heard of her!
Review. Huge integrity and Waste, Fraud, and Abuse problems with public relations and simple oversight of financial programs. If you’re looking for a success FOR HERSELF then look at her $3,000 per hour pay rate! She’s doing great for her!
We all know the saying Be part of the problem or part of the solution.
Commissioner Wright is THE PROBLEM and she will be the problem for another 4 years if the voters allow her to be reelected.
O’Brien has a long record of being part of the solution and fixing and improving problems like these. That’s his plan.
The standard is not high for elected office. We can and must do better!
Again, for these reasons, please consider supporting Anthony O’Brien for Commissioner.
Commissioner Sandra Wright, when will you pay back the money?? Stop the scam, Sandra!
Please consider supporting O’Brien’s campaign with sign locations on main roads, info about event or meetings he should attend, and/or a donation at this link, please cut-and-paste the link to your browser:
https://secure.winred.com/committee-to-elect-anthony-o-brien/donate-today
O’Brien can be reached at cell-text 508-868-2547. Thank you for your attention and consideration.
If your group has any meetings or events coming up that you would like O’Brien to attend and/or speak at then please let him know.
To donate to O'Brien's campaign please visit: https://secure.winred.com/committee-to-elect-anthony-o-brien/donate-today Apologies in advance for any processing issues.
You can also donate via check to "Committee to Elect CTE Anthony O'Brien," mail to PO Box 27 Pembroke MA 02359
Please see updates here and/or facebook/AnthonyOBrienSr
If you have any questions then please text or email him (508) 868-2547 AnthonyThomasOBrien@yahoo.com
Please visit back for updates to follow soon.
Introduction
Anthony O'Brien, Sr. served tours in the Marine Corps and the Navy and now serves as a Deputy Sheriff with the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. He coaches his children in sports and clients in weight loss and fitness.
His Dad Don O'Brien was the first Deacon at St. Edward Church (now St. Edith) in Brockton. Don and his 3 brothers served in the military and inspired Tony to follow their example to serve.
With 14 siblings (mostly from 2 stepFamilies) & a family of nurses & veterans, Tony's greatest joy is serving as Dad to Anthony Jr (14) & James Donald (12) with max gratitude for his family's generations of dedication to faith, family, education, community & country.
Tony O'Brien is a former Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) who served at SEAL Team FIVE & SDV Team ONE. A veteran of seven overseas deployments to 25 countries, he led platoons & task units for crisis response throughout Asia, the Middle East & Europe and trained in 30 states throughout the US.
He worked with US Secret Service details for US Presidents (Pres. Bush Sr, Pres. Clinton, Pres. Bush Jr). LCDR O'Brien's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, French Fourragere decoration, and commendations from the Secretary of Defense & President Bush Jr.
As a former Navy SEAL officer & graduate of the Command & Staff College focusing on strategic planning & operations, he is an expert in mission planning & execution and a mission-oriented mindset helping individuals & teams maximize mission success in life and/or business through his program SEAL Boot Camp.
Contact: cell-text (508) 868-2547 AnthonyThomasOBrien@yahoo.com
facebook.com/AnthonyOBrienSr LinkedIn.com/AnthonyO'Brien
PO Box 384 Brockton MA 02303 www.AnthonyOBrien.com
Summary
At Cardinal Spellman High School, he was selected to the National Honor Society for academics. He became a runner and member of cross-country & track teams who was selected co-captain of both teams that participated in state tournaments.
In his senior year of high school, he finished 3 marathons (26.2 miles) including 2nd place at the New England Junior AAU Marathon Championship in Holyoke, Mass.
Also active in the Drama Club, he was inducted in Spellman's Robert McEwan Drama Hall of Fame in 2011 for participation in and support of theater & performing arts programs.
Drama Director Mr. McEwan & XC-track Coach Nick Siciliano were two of his closest teachers & mentors.
His athletic career included finishing 15 marathons (26.2 mi), 3 Half-IRONMAN triathlons & the IRONMAN triathlon world championship in Hawaii (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles).
After serving a tour in the Marine Corps Infantry & Recon, the Secretary of the Navy selected him to transfer to the Navy & try-out for the SEALs at their basic training course, the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course or "BUD/S." He graduated with class 156.
A motto for his life may be "Better late than never" due to several challenging highlights at any age that he hopes may inspire others incl: attended BUD/S at max allowed age of 28, is one of the oldest graduates of Army Ranger School ever (age 41), became a Dad at age 51 & 53, and graduated police academy at age 56.
After his faith in God, and thanks to God, his favorite blessing is being a Dad, with of course top credit & max thanks to their children's Mom Staci who named Anthony Jr. (AJ) after his Dad & "James Donald" (little JD) after the boys' grandfathers.
He is blessed to have survived serious injuries from accidents parachuting, diving, skiing & motorcycling and from decades & hundreds of miles and hills running, hiking & swimming carrying equipment & under hazardous conditions while leading highly-skilled units in training & operations worldwide. His competitive athletic career has transitioned to the joy of very light exercise & coaching others.
He uses his weight management program that he mostly learned in the military & has studied since then. It helped him lose 45 lbs in 4 months & he has maintained 175 lb for 15 years focusing on better eating habits and very light exercise to be part of fighting the obesity epidemic causing diseases & death and help more clients-teammates get more healthy & live leaner longer for their families & themselves.
One of many inspiring principles from his faith & service is "we are never out of the fight." We all stumble & fall, but how long do we stay down? Who gets up? Of course, one doesn't have to be a Marine, SEAL or Christian to be inspired to overcome obstacles. Thankfully, most people do overcome.
Personal
His Dad Don served in the Marine Corps in Korea. Don's 3 brothers also served in the military.
Don met Tony's Mom Marigold while Don was a student at UMass & she was a student at Bay Path College. Don was hired as a manager at the Howard Johnson plant in Brockton.
Tony's parents had 4 children: Anthony, Josephine, Matthew & John. They named him after Saint Anthony (Patron of the lost) & Apostle (doubting) Thomas. Josephine was named after Don's mother-their Grandmother. Matty was named after Apostle Matthew. John was named after their Uncle John, a WWII veteran & husband of their beloved Aunt Doris.
When Tony was age 5, a fire at their home resulted in the death of their heroic Mom Marigold age 28 & Tony's brother 'little John' age 2. She ran in & out of the burning home several times to get each child out.
A few years later, Don married Lorraine Sabina of Brockton who was also a young widow - also with 3 children - Ed, Laurianne & Mark Sabina. Ed was named after their Father.
The unique merger of the two families with 3 children each was often referred to as "The Brady Bunch" after the popular TV show which had a similar storyline.
Don & Lorraine had a "love boy" son Donny (who Tony affectionately calls "partner" due to golf tournaments they played together as teammates & won awards at).
They were active at St. Mary's Church & St. Edward Church and attended Brockton schools.
His first stepMom Lorraine & Tony share the same birthday.
Tony attended Massasoit Community College in Brockton and graduated from Stonehill College in Easton MA and Command & Staff College in Quantico VA.
His Dad Don's career was highlighted by becoming one on the most respected & sought-after experts on food plant operations and food safety procedures & inspections in the eastern US, plus his longtime Deacon ministry highlighted by Don & Lorraine's popular Pre-Cana program preparing couples for marriage.
After Lorraine's extended battle with cancer, including Don taking a leave of absence from work to serve as her caregiver for a year, their beloved Lorraine passed away at age 61.
A few years later, his Dad Don married Andrea, also a widow with 7 children - the second time Don was a widower & married a widow with the same number of children that he had.
Don & Andrea have 14 children, 32 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren - holidays are fun.
His Dad Don & his 4 siblings all lived to the age of 80.
Tony's sister Josephine introduced him to her best-friend Staci. Their children Anthony & James are very close to their four grandparents and enjoy arts & crafts, music & performing arts, running, soccer, skiing, baseball & hockey..
Detailed military biography
Tony's inspiration to serve our country started with "years of patriotic stories & admiring pride of service from his Dad, Uncle Dick & Uncle Chuck who were Marines." His Uncle Dick was a Vietnam veteran & Marine Corps colonel. His Uncle David USN was the 48th Commanding Officer of the USS Constitution that Tony affectionately calls "USS-1." Don's third brother John served in the Air Force.
Tony also responded to a call to service from President Reagan following the Iran embassy hostage crisis. His family legacy makes him most proud of his military service.
After joining the Marines, he was selected for appointment to Lieutenant in the Marines by President Reagan. Then he was selected to be an Infantry platoon commander assigned to First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (1-5), First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton CA, under battalion commander Colonel Peter Vacca, a Vietnam Silver Star recipient. O'Brien led his platoon on an overseas deployment throughout Asia including Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & China.
His battalion executive officer Major Wallace Gregson & operations officer Capt. Richard Natonski would both rise to the rank of General. LT O'Brien was blessed with outstanding troops, leaders & mentors throughout his military service. Infantry units are the front-line combat personnel closest to enemy engagement during conventional military operations which are usually large-scale operations.
As the platoon commander, he was responsible for his unit's combat readiness, served as the unit's primary instructor for weapons & tactics, coordinated their admin, intel, training, ops, logistics, supply, transportation, and communications functions, and was the tactical leader for combat operations.
A common observation among career combat-arms officers is "platoon commander is the most fun & rewarding job in the US military" & in their entire careers.
Deployments are the rotation of units to temporary assignments overseas to maintain US national security worldwide, train with foreign military units, and remain vigilant there to respond to crisis situations as assigned by higher authority. The Dept. of Defense national management of the deployment system maintains US military presence worldwide to assist allies & serve US national security interests.
One of the Corps' most decorated units, First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (1/5), nicknamed "Geronimo" after the famous warrior, has a century-old reputation as a "Go-to" unit selected for difficult missions that participated in some of the most famous battles ever: Battles of Belleau Wood (WWI), Okinawa (WWII), Chosin Reservoir (Korea), Hue (Vietnam), Desert Storm & Iraqi Freedom.
The Marines' nickname "Devil dogs" was given by the French in appreciation for the Marines' never-say-die fighting spirit that was critical to victory during the infamous Battle of Belleau Wood.
For their courage at Belleau Wood, the Fifth Marine Regiment was awarded the French Fourragere decoration (shoulder cord) which the unit still wears today.
Fifth Marines is considered the most decorated regiment in Marine Corps history.
LT O'Brien also completed USMC Mountain Leader Course at Bridgeport CA in the Sierra Nevada mountains conducting challenging training to become an instructor in military rock climbing and skiing.
After his tour in the Infantry, O'Brien was hoping to serve in a unit more focused on smaller & more independent special operations. He was selected for & completed a rigorous screening process for "Recon" and was selected as a recon Platoon Commander at First Reconnaissance Battalion under battalion commanders Colonel Wheeler Baker then Colonel Digger O'Dell. (Joining Recon was significant since his Uncle Dick served in Recon in Vietnam - more on Colonel Dick here soon.)
Colonel Digger O'Dell was inducted in the USSOCOM Commando Hall of Honor. Recon was a division-level combat asset performing reconnaissance providing intelligence offices with tactical information. Recon was the first Marine Corps unit to be informally considered "special operations" before the Marines joined SOCOM in 2006 to fully integrate in US Special Operations and established the Raiders in 2015. First Recon Bn was featured in the TV miniseries "Generation Kill."
O'Brien's Recon platoon conducted special weapons and tactics training with one of America's most highly-regarded law enforcement units, Los Angeles Police SWAT.
In 1985, he led his platoon as the first Recon platoon to make an operational overseas deployment since Vietnam and deployed with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 (BLT) throughout Asia incl Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand & Guam.
First Force Recon Company was disestablished after Vietnam then reestablished in 1986.
LT O'Brien worked for BLT battalion commander Colonel Bob Tilley, a Vietnam Silver Star recipient, and trained in Japan with a Navy SEAL unit led by LTs Joe Kernan & Tom Brown and Chief Pat Parks. This was his first knowledge of & experience with SEALs. Kernan & Brown rose to the rank of Admiral. For his tour in the Infantry & Recon, O'Brien was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal from Colonel O'Dell & General Hank Stackpole.
At Recon, he attended Navy Diver School and Navy Diver Ops Supervisor Course (taught by SEALs) at San Diego CA and led several diving ops from several patrol boats, ships & submarines.
He attended Army Airborne (parachutist) School and Army Jumpmaster School at Ft. Benning GA and led many parachute ops from fixed wing aircrafts & helicopters from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. In the Marines, he was authorized to wear the Navy Diver insignia, Army and Navy parachutist "jump wings" badges, and the French Fourragere decoration.
In 1986, he and members of his Recon platoon were selected to be "extras" in Clint Eastwood's Marine Corps movie "Heartbreak Ridge" for scenes filmed at Camp Pendleton and can be seen in several scenes as Marines in the units with Mr. Eastwood. (He would say please call me Clint, Marines responded yes sir Mr. Eastwood.)
During training in Quantico VA, O'Brien played a season for the Marine Corps Quantico rugby team. In a highly competitive process, hIs officer's commission was meritoriously augmented from reserve to regular officer which was required for his promotion to Captain and to continue his military career.
On promotion to Captain in the Marines, he was selected to serve at Bootcamp Parris Island SC as a Series Commander, Battalion Adjutant then Battalion Executive Officer supervising & leading Drill Instructors training thousands of recruits to graduate from Marine Corps Bootcamp & become Marines.
As a Battalion Adjutant (2RTB) at Parris Island, he carried his Uncle Dick's 1952 USMC sword while leading many ceremonies including Bootcamp graduation ceremonies. (Don't mess up that ceremony, "Moms of America" are filming it.) A top inspiration for Tony joining the Marines, Uncle Dick was a Marine Colonel & Vietnam veteran who also served in Recon and was a decorated Vietnamese linguist interrogating prisoners in combat, later was an infantry battalion commander (1st Bn, 8th Marines), and then national commandant of the Marine Corps League (MCL), the first MCL national commandant while serving on active duty since the legendary General John A. Lejeune founded the MCL in 1923.
While stationed in South Carolina, Tony earned his FAA private pilot license.
For his successful tour in the Marines, Capt. O'Brien was awarded his second Navy Achievement Medal from Colonel Jay Sollis & the Commanding General and the Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Tony's Drill Instructors presented hm with a Marine Corps NCO sword (enlisted non-commissioned officer) which he says was one of his greatest honors & gifts.
While at Parris Island, and inspired by his previous training with SEALs and desire to serve in units more focused on special operations, he was selected for a rare inter-service transfer to the Navy, appointment to Lieutenant by US Secretary of the Navy James Webb, and an opportunity to try-out for the SEALs at their maximum allowed age of 28. (Average age of BUD/S students is 20.)
O'Brien is especially grateful to CAPT Larry Bailey, then Commanding Officer of BUD/S, who supported his application to transfer to the Navy & attend BUD/S.
Secretary Webb is a distinguished USMC veteran, former US Senator, Vietnam vet recipient of Navy Cross & Silver Star Medals, and best-selling author of military books.
BUD/S is the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training course considered one of the most difficult military training programs in the world & the foundation of the SEAL's legacy as a highly successful special operations military unit. A BUD/S class starts with an average of 100 students and the graduation average in each class is 20%. Tony often looks back at his experience at BUD/S & how a "do-or-die attitude" was required to start & complete some training events (as well as a supreme trust in training staff, classmates, and of course faith in God). Once one achieves that mindset then it can change how one approaches so many things in life for their entire life.
Navy SEAL units are specialized combat units tasked by higher authority usually for crisis response, search & rescue, and disaster relief operations usually under highly challenging & hazardous conditions. SEAL Teams were founded in 1962 by President Kennedy, who heroically commanded specialized small boat operations including frogmen in WWII.
The SEALs were formed in 1962 from their predecessors the UDT, Underwater Demolition Teams, who were founded in 1942 during WWII as an emergency response for the great need for more clandestine intel, before amphibious landings in the Pacific campaign, about surf, beach & enemy info. UDT conducted critical specialized missions during WWII, the Korean War & the Vietnam War before UDT transitioned to SEAL Teams in the 1980s.
The nickname for UDT was "frogmen" and, out of utmost respect for their UDT predecessors, today SEALs still call each other "frogman."
Tony's family Navy legacy includes Uncle David was the 48th Commanding Officer of the USS Constitution, cousin Tom was a Top Gun pilot who worked as an advisor on the movie "Top Gun," and cousin Mike served in the nuclear Navy. Tony's Dad Don served in the Marine Corps in aviation ordnance in Korea. Tony's brother Dave served in the Marines as a Sergeant & aircraft technician.
Still commissioned in the active duty Navy today, USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" is the oldest commissioned warship in the world & "America's Ship of State" & one of the most popular sites for visitors to Boston daily.
LT O'Brien was selected for & attended BUD/S at the maximum age of 28. In class 155, due to being the senior ranking student as a Lieutenant, he was the class leader throughout training including completing Hell Week on his first try. During marksmanship training, he was recognized as the top shooter in his class. Then he failed a rigorous evaluated pool training exercise when he passed out underwater, was revived poolside, and was dropped from class 155 & rolled back to class 156.
He graduated with class 156 at age 29, one of the oldest graduates since BUD/S started in 1942. O'Brien credits the success that he & his classmates had at BUD/S to "his running-endurance training since high school, his unusual professional preparation (in the Marines), the incredible motivating leadership of BUD/S instructors & the relentless selfless teamwork of his classmates."
He was assigned to SEAL Team FIVE as a Platoon Commander and his platoon conducted tactical training with several local & federal law enforcement agencies in several states across the US.
A highlight of their pre-deployment training was during a major evaluated exercise (ORE) when, during a night tactical at-sea parachuting insertion ("water jump") in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a major accident involving unit equipment accident required the mission to be aborted.
During the same water jump, another mishap was avoided (that was not part of the major equipment accident) in extreme high seas & weather, when, due to a dry-suit malfunction, O'Brien had to be rescued from a near-drowning situation by his platoon-mate & "Swim Buddy" Navy SEAL Curt "Beast" Campbell.
Due to the aborted mission, the exercise was rescheduled and was a success for their platoon. Concurrently, while leading his first SEAL platoon through pre-deployment training, LT O'Brien was participating in his advance training to earn his full SEAL qualification.
Then he was awarded & is authorized to wear the SEAL "trident" insignia.
Former Navy SEAL Curt Campbell is a former Director of Maritime Security for SSA Marine in Long Beach CA, one of the largest & busiest seaports in the world. Curt is also lead vocalist & harmonica-player for the Kill House Blues Band & Eclectic Beast Band with 8 albums to his credit, latest album is "Off the Grid."
LT O'Brien led an overseas deployment to NSWU-1 highlighted by his platoon's support for US Embassy security against terrorist threats in the Philippines.
During winter training in Korea on steep mountains and in a harsh snow storm, his unit conducted a successful hazardous no-notice, high-altitude, life-saving medevac of a pregnant Korean civilian with severe medical complications which was the subject of an international news story.
On the same deployment, during parachute training in a remote area of the Philippines, O'Brien landed on rocks at a high rate of speed receiving serious injuries including broken ribs & a punctured lung. He is supremely grateful to platoon-mates who expedited his medevac & recovery.
On the same jump, a platoon-mate broke his leg and also required medevac & recovered well.
O'Brien's injuries required suspension of his Navy diver qualification. However, he was allowed to complete the deployment with his platoon.
After that deployment, he recovered & was reevaluated as qualified for full-duty status as a diver.
Then LT O'Brien was elevated to task force SEAL Ops officer in support of a SEAL Team THREE Task Unit working for Task Force Commander Admiral Stephen Clarey during the Persian Gulf War (Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort) defeat of the Iraqi invasion in Kuwait.
A highlight of that deployment was his task unit processed 1,500 prisoners of war (POW) in 2 days. He also worked with SEAL Team EIGHT, Admiral Bill McRaven and Captain Pete Toennies (his first CO at SEAL Team FIVE). His unit was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Southwest Asia Medal & Kuwait Liberation Medals.
Their Amphibious Task Force (19 total ships) was the largest naval deployment and operation since the Vietnam War. With an unprecedented multinational coalition of 38 countries led by President Bush Sr., the Gulf War also resulted in a historically low number of KIA casualties for a large-scale operation (500,000 American troops participated).
On their way home, a massive historic cyclone decimated the Bangladesh coastline killing 40,000 people and thousands of livestock & animals in a few hours which left injured & dead bodies covering the entire area, basic infrastructure services destroyed, and 5 million people homeless. His task force was diverted to Bangladesh for Operation Sea Angel to lead America's initial response to the deadliest cyclone ever (category 5). His task unit's efforts as the first international responders on the ground establishing the initial command post and worldwide communications, and providing emergency first aid, food & water to survivors were credited with saving thousands of lives and was the subject of international news stories. Task Force Sea Angel, commanded by O'Brien's former boss General Stackpole, was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal & included a coalition joined by Japan, Pakistan, England, China, India & France.
While assigned to SEAL Team FIVE, LT O'Brien received the Navy Commendation Medal & Navy Unit Commendation.
Then he was assigned by Commodore Ray Smith to SDV Team ONE at Pearl Harbor HI as a Platoon Commander (DDS), led overseas deployments to NSWU-1 in Guam, and received his second Navy Unit Commendation & a rare Battle "E" award (Battle Excellence) from the Secretary of the Navy for a shipboard detachment.
At Pearl Harbor at the famous national monument & gravesite USS Arizona, LT O'Brien & teammates assisted the ceremonial dive team during funeral & burial at-sea services for survivors of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. During the attack, 1,177 Sailors were killed onboard the USS Arizona which was sunk where it was moored. The KIA Sailors remain interned onboard the ship as the Arizona is designated a national monument & national burial-gravesite. Upon request, Pearl Harbor survivors may return to Pearl Harbor and may be buried at sea at the USS Arizona with their fellow veterans of the Pearl Harbor attack. One of his most solemn duties, usually the burial is part of a ceremony including the dive team swimming remains to the bottom 60 feet below.
O'Brien's shipboard deployments included onboard USS Peleliu (LHA-5), USS Tarawa (LHA-1), USS Okinawa (LPH-3), USS Blueback (SS-581), USS Tunny (SSN-682), and USS Bates (SSN-680).
He says "Our many awards & promotions during our highly challenging tours at SEAL Team FIVE and SDV Team ONE were in greatest part due to the incredible work of my teammates, I was blessed that they allowed me to stand on their shoulders, and they have my utmost admiration and appreciation forever."
Due to their successes at SEAL Team FIVE & SDV Team ONE, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and selected to be the Chief of Maritime Counter-terrorism Ops for (Cmdr-in-Chief-Pacific USCINCPAC) Admiral Charles Larson at US Pacific Command (PACOM) coordinating training and operations for Army, Navy & Air Force Special Operations units, as well as several federal intel & law enforcement agencies, during deployments throughout Asia and the Middle East. In this assignment, he also worked with Secret Service details protecting Presidents Bush Sr. & Clinton.
In 1993, he also completed the IROMNAN Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii (swim 2.4 mi, bike 112 mi, run 26.2 mi).
In 1995, he became one of the few SEALs to ever attend the Army Freefall/HALO School (freefall/skydive parachuting) at Ft. Bragg NC & Yuma AZ. (Upon selection to attend Army HALO School & due to his experience as a civilian skydiver & Army-certified static-line jumpmaster, he was selected for a rare opportunity to formally "challenge" the HALO course in a significantly shortened format for an accelerated graduation.) He is authorized to wear the military HALO Freefall parachute badge. He is most grateful to his bosses, Army Colonel Greg Flick & Colonel Jim Kingsley USAF who allowed that opportunity.
He completed Command & Staff College graduate studies in National Security & Strategic Planning. He is authorized to wear the USCINCPAC Joint service badge & was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal from ADM Larson.
While stationed in Hawaii, one of his favorite off-duty activities was skydiving on the north shore of Oahu where he had hundreds of jumps and the great joy & friendships that come with that activity. During a routine skydive with O'Brien, one of his Marine Corps friends was killed due to an equipment malfunction. The accident was even more surprising since his friend was a military parachute rigger as a job specialty & had recently graduated from the Army Freefall/HALO Parachuting training course at Ft. Bragg NC. The accident was the subject of a national news story.
He also was in charge of an operations support center coordinating training and worldwide deployments for reserve units which prepared him for his follow-on assignment that included coordinating activities of SEAL reserves units throughout the eastern US at Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Group TWO in Norfolk VA.
Another most solemn duty was serving as a Casualty Calls officer who, immediately following a Sailor's death anywhere in the world, received short-notice assignements to provide the first in-person notification of that Sailor's death to the Sailor's family-NOK (next of kin) in O'Brien's region.
In 1997, he also participated in a nation-wide multi-agency law enforcement investigation Operation Long Fuse that resulted in the arrests & prosecutions of several military personnel involved in the theft of sensitive military equipment throughout the US.
In 1998, he was selected as the National Junior Officer of the Year by the Association of the US Navy (AUSN)
He was then elevated to serve as Group Training Officer at NSW Group TWO coordinating worldwide training for active and reserve SEAL Teams plus kserved as director for the SEAL advanced training course, SEAL Sniper course & SEAL Breacher course. He also helped develop new & improved curriculums for training programs incl. the SEAL advanced training course.
While assigned to Group TWO, and at the age of 41, he volunteered to attend Army Ranger School (class 11-00) at Ft. Benning GA. Ranger School is considered one of the best small unit infantry combat leadership courses in the world, and one of the most difficult to complete.
Army Rangers are famous for many combat successes most notably during WWII on D-Day climbing the cliffs at Normandy to defeat heavily-defended, critical enemy positions aimed at stopping the American beach landings.
Ranger school primarily trains infantry small unit leaders to be top infantry tactics instructors & better leaders back at their infantry units. (Note: Although all Rangers must gradua
