For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Brian O’Leary, and I started publishing on Substack in August 2022.
It took me a few months to turn it into a regular gig but, since February 2023, I’ve posted over 150 essays covering a variety of topics from US politics, the economy, developments in the Middle East, national security, immigration, the border, religion, human interest, criminal justice, American history, current events…you name it.
Give me an interesting and compelling lead and I’ll write about it. It’s what I love.
Look, I know there’s no end to the number of news sources out there, which is why I do my best not to waste anyone’s time by simply regurgitating stories that you’ve already heard or read. Instead, I try to go the extra mile to uncover aspects of a particular issue or story that you don’t yet know about.
Why should you care what I think?
Well, first of all, I know what I’m writing about, and I do it well. And let’s just say that I’ve been around the block.
As a first-semester freshman at Penn State, I started writing a bi-weekly column for the Daily Collegian.
From my late teens, I was a nationally ranked amateur boxer and competed internationally.
I spent 30 years as a Marine Corps ground combat officer, including three combat deployments, so I’ve been to some interesting places and met some intriguing people.
I also worked in the financial services industry for 25 years, though I enjoyed being a Marine a lot more.
I’m a graduate of the US Army War College, where I earned my master’s degree in National Security Studies.
I’ve been a news and political junkie since I was a kid and have never stopped paying attention (though, I sometimes wish I could).
I’ve been to 25 foreign countries, both as a Marine and a tourist.
Last year, I spent 10 days in Israel, learning first-hand what life is like for both Israelis and Palestinians during the current conflict. This April, I’ll be spending nearly three weeks there.
I raised three now-adult kids, all of whom attended top-tier universities.
Finally, I’m obsessive about not being wrong, so I research and repeatedly recheck my facts before I even think about publishing them. I can assure you that I’ll always do my best to tell you the accurate truth about any issue I cover. I want you to be able to repeat what I’ve written, confident that you’ve got your facts straight.
Why you should consider upgrading to a paid subscription:
As much as I enjoy writing, I wouldn’t mind making this a profitable endeavor. Therefore, I put most of my good stuff behind paywalls.
As a paid subscriber:
You’ll get full access to all subscriber-only posts and the full archive (currently over 160 articles).
You can join the conversation by posting comments, which I genuinely enjoy responding to.
You’ll be able to hear ad-free podcasts and audio versions of selected essays.
Still not convinced?
If you find yourself on the fence, check out what some of my paid subscribers have said.
I hope you’ll consider joining the growing Danger Close club.
Best wishes and God bless America,
Brian
Brian O'Leary is a retired Marine Corps colonel who served for 30 years, including deployments to Somalia and Iraq, and command of an infantry battalion in Afghanistan. Additionally, he has spent 25 years in the financial services industry. Brian earned his BA in English from Penn State University, and his MA in National Security Studies from the US Army War College.
IG - @brian_oleary34 X - @brianoleary34
