Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Brian Birdwell is a survivor of the terrorist’s attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.  After American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, just feet away from his second floor office, Birdwell was thrown to the ground and engulfed in flames. Of the burns that consumed 60 percent of his body, nearly half were third-degree burns. After enduring more than 30 operations and months of hospitalization and multiple skin grafts, Brian has made a miraculous recovery. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on that day.

Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell is a native of Fort Worth, Texas.  He earned is bachelors degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and Masters of Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Throughout his twenty year military career, Brian served in many duty assignments including the DMZ (demilitarized zone) in Korea, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and provided humanitarian relief to Central America after Hurricane Mitch.

Since his retirement, Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell founded Face the Fire Ministries, Inc.  The organization was established to assist burn survivors and wounded servicemen and women and their families. Birdwell is currently serving as a Texas State Senator.

Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell and his wife, Mel, have one son, Matt, and one fabulous golden retriever, Hayley. They reside in Granbury, Texas.