Project DYNAMO congratulates U.S. government on Brittany Griner rescue

Editor’s note: Bryan Stern is available for media interviews as a subject matter expert in rescues of American citizens held hostage or unlawfully detained. He will be in New York City tomorrow, Friday Dec. 9, and is available to come in-studio, if needed. 

TAMPA, Florida – A Tampa-based nonprofit is congratulating the U.S. State Department for their successful efforts to have WNBA star Brittany Griner released from Russian captivity.

“We are always thankful to see the safe return of an American citizen from foreign captivity, especially a nation known for unlawful detainment for political purposes,” said Project DYNAMO founder Bryan Stern. “Through our work in the hostage rescue space, Project DYNAMO has been aggressively tracking the Griner case for months. Our team has been concerned for Brittany’s well-being since her arrest, and we are relieved that she will be home with her family during the holiday season.”

Project DYNAMO specifically thanks Roger Carstens and the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) for their efforts on Griner’s case.

“We are also thankful for the diligence of the members of the SPEHA office,” said Stern. “Without their tireless work and patriotism, Griner would certainly remain in captivity.”

Stern noted that American Marine veteran Paul Whelan is still being held captive by the Russians.

“At the same time, I’m disappointed that a veteran like Paul Whelan remains in captivity, left behind,” said Stern. “We continue to pray for his safe return and hope that he will soon be freed so that he, too, can be reunited with his family in the United States. Having dealt many times with Russian forces holding Americans hostage, such as Kirillo Alexandorv, Terry Gately, and others, we know all too well the pain and frustration felt by the families during these hostage cases."

About Project Dynamo:

Founded during the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan in 2021, Project DYNAMO is an international search, rescue, aid and assistance 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Tampa, Florida with worldwide operations. Project DYNAMO operates in the “gray space,” where the United States government does not. The primary objective of Project DYNAMO is to provide assistance to those impacted in disaster areas and conflict zones throughout the world. Notably, Project DYNAMO conducted the first air-rescue missions from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control, and has negotiated the release and exfiltrated numerous Americans from captivity and false imprisonment.