I was privileged and honored to work alongside Brian for more than 15 years. I had a front row seat to watch his innovation and determination profoundly transform and grow the Stimson Center. Brian was a true leader – with an incredible vision, an unending curiosity, and an indelible grit – forged in a belief that, together, we could find solutions to complex global challenges. What was especially striking about Brian’s leadership was his deep humility. He was always the first person to roll his sleeves up and try to do things that people said were too hard or too complicated (and often the first one in the office to unload the dishwasher). Brian’s indomitable spirit, his zest for life, and his genuine Canadian friendliness were abundant and contagious.  

Brian demonstrated the very best of Stimson’s ethos and culture. He was his colleagues’ biggest cheerleader and loved to shine a spotlight on other’s success – never taking credit for the work of the Center himself. Brian was the leader that the organization needed, the boss that one could only hope for, and the friend that most would have only dreamed of. I will miss him every day. 

From the moment you met Brian, you knew you had encountered a rare spirit. His energy was magnetic, his enthusiasm was infectious, but it was his humility that set him apart from all other leaders in my career. In a city motivated by titles, ego, and one-upmanship, Brian never thought to be anything other than exactly who he was – gracious, decent, and true.

He saw greatness in his team and in this organization that few others might have thought possible. Like a sculptor looking at a piece of marble and seeing the potential within, Brian chiseled away at self-doubt and limitation to show us that excellence was always lying just below the surface, waiting for the leader we needed to unleash our full potential. I am privileged to have called Brian a leader, a boss, and a friend for the last several years. He will be deeply missed, and he will never be forgotten.

Brian was a mentor, colleague, and a friend. We withstood many Mekong battles together, some won and some lost. I could trust that he always had my back in the fights worth fighting. He always moved with finesse, grace, and humor and made us all feel at home even during difficult times. I will deeply miss him. 

Stimson is the third think tank that I’ve worked for in Washington, DC, a career that has spanned across three decades. Every one of these places takes on the identity of its leaders. But Brian’s impact on this place, and the wider policy community, is really impossible to overstate. And I felt it the moment I arrived in September 2022. His optimism and positivity is reflected in everything that Stimson does. He was so passionate about this place, and our work. He made us all feel welcome and valued. He preached the importance of doing meaningful work, and of making the world a better place. I can’t think of a better legacy.

Brian was a giant – physically, professionally, and personally. He led by his example of boundless energy, creativity, and commitment to the cause of developing pragmatic solutions to difficult problems. His positive impact on our world will be felt for many years to come. I will always cherish his friendship and the lessons I learned at his side. Brian will be sorely missed.

In my first days in Washington, I was overjoyed to be starting my new career but also a bit overwhelmed by the newness of the city and its culture. Brian Finlay demonstrated to me very quickly what kind of organization and Washington he wanted to create, warmly introducing himself to me even though he was the President and CEO while I was junior staff. In speaking with him for the first time, I discovered that he was and will likely remain one of the only people in Washington who knew exactly where my small Midwestern hometown was, and he shared fond memories about the town and his visits there. His ability to make me feel instantly at home at Stimson gave me encouragement to think that maybe Washington wasn’t nearly as bad as people said. Washington has certainly been a better place because of Brian Finlay, who was a truly decent man. His passing is a great loss for the international security community and for all those in Washington and all over the world who had the fortune to know him. May we all honor his memory by carrying forward his relentless pursuit for a safer and more stable world.

Brian Finlay was a man who inspired, who made us laugh with his Canadian humor, eh…, a man with the influential world view, who lifted any conversation to a better place, a man who was, and will always be, the Stimson brand ambassador, who believed so fervently in his colleagues, the institution, and its vital mission, a man who was so respected by so many, and who loved and was so proud of his family.

Rare is the opportunity to make a real difference in the world, to advance the cause of something bigger than ourselves. Brian Finlay’s fingerprints are all over Stimson. Traces of possibility, humility, graciousness, and integrity. Having Brian as a friend and colleague was my and our extraordinary gift.

We lost a true leader and a remarkable man today.

Brian stood tall – both literally and figuratively. He was the best boss I ever had – and I’ve had many over a half-century career in journalism and think-tankdom. He was fiercely protective of staff and of our intellectual independence even when faced with outside criticism and controversy, which is inevitable in our line of work. Brian was deeply immersed in the most important security issues of the day and endlessly curious. The respect he showed us gave us confidence to do our best work. My condolences to his family and fellow Stimsonites. I only wish I had known him longer. 

Though I worked with Brian for only two years, I was deeply touched by his passion for the work, his compassion for his colleagues, and his quiet decency as a human being. I had the privilege of getting to know Brian better while collaborating on a private roundtable around this time last year, and he gave everything he had to support our work. I will miss his boundless can-do spirit, and of course that wonderful laugh and his energetic stride through the hallways of the Stimson Center in the early hours of the morning. I will always carry with me his warm words of encouragement.

Brian Finlay is one of the greats. He made the room feel both brighter and lighter, which is not an easy thing to do in DC! A lot of leaders talk about the workplace as a family, but Brian made it feel real. He led with warmth, curiosity, and humility, none of which dulled his extraordinary sharpness. Working at Stimson with him at the helm was a gift – one I wish had lasted a lot longer.