Project 21 Ambassador Bernard (“Berney”) Flowers is an Air Force veteran, a former Department of Defense employee and the author of “Black Values Matter.”

During his nearly 21 years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force, Berney deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and “visited” 22 countries and 43 states in the performance of his duties. When the Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2001, he was assigned to the Air Force’s “Air Staff.”

After he retired from the Air Force with the rank of lieutenant colonel, Berney worked as a project manager in the banking industry. 

In 2009, he returned to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as a civil servant, where he was part of USCYBERCOM’s initial staff. He later served as NORAD & USNORTHCOM’s senior technical advisor at Fort Meade.  Before retiring from DoD, he participated in refugee resettlement efforts for Afghans, Haitians and undocumented migrants in defense of the southwest U.S. border.

In 2021, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed Berney to the District 9 Judicial Nominating Commission in Howard County, MD.  In 2022, Berney joined the external advisory board at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.  Also in 2022, Berney authored the book “Black Values Matter.”

Berney was recently appointed as a member of the Howard County Republican Central Committee and he hosts the “Loyal Opposition” podcast, available weekly on most social media outlets.

Berney is a proud husband of over 36 years, a father of two successful young adult children, a father-in-law and a new grandfather.  He volunteers locally and is a mentor to many.  He enjoys traveling, gardening and entertaining friends.