Jeffrey R O'Brien - Operation Epic Fury -- OurWarHeroes.org

Jeffrey R O'Brien

Waukee, Iowa

March 1, 2026

Age	Military	Rank	Unit/Location
45	Army	Maj	103rd Sustainment Command Des Moines, Iowa

Killed in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack.

Army Maj. Jeffery R. O’Brien honored in dignified transfer March 7

A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Maj. Jeffery R. O’Brien of Indianola, Iowa, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. O’Brien was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jason Minto)
PHOTO BY: Jason Minto

From ABC 9 KCRG kcrg.com 03/05/26

What we know about the second Iowan soldier killed in Kuwait
By The Associated Press
Published: Mar. 5, 2026 at 4:36 AM PST|Updated: Mar. 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM PST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Pentagon has identified a second Iowan killed in Sunday’s drone strike in Kuwait as Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa.

He is one of the six U.S. soldiers killed in a drone strike at a command center as part of retaliatory strikes from Iran.

The six members of the Army Reserve, who worked in logistics and kept troops supplied with food and equipment, died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

The strike came one day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

Nearly 15 years of service

O’Brien was initially commissioned as a Signal Corps Officer with the Army Reserve in 2012. He was also deployed to Kuwait in 2019, according to an Army news release.

O’Brien was promoted to major in August 2024, according to a Facebook post, which shows him alongside two young children.

The signal officer and information systems engineer in the Army Reserve was a manager of defensive cyber operations at ProCircular, according to his LinkedIn.

He graduated from North Linn High School in 1999 and had a career spanning two decades in information and cybersecurity.

He also received multiple awards and decorations during his time in the Army Reserve.

The O’Brien family shared the following statement:

The past few days have been absolutely devastating, confusing, and surreal for our family. We are in shock, grieving, and grappling with the reality that we have lost the most important man in our lives, and we are trying to come to terms with how we move forward.

Jeff was a true hero in every sense of the word. He was not only a role model to our kids, but also a goofy and silly dad, always looking for ways to make the kids laugh. He was an exceptional and caring husband, even finding ways to take care of us while serving 7,000 miles away. Jeff was also an incredible friend, a dedicated employee, and a man of deep faith. Every one of these relationships mattered profoundly to him, and he will be missed by so many.

We are beyond grateful for the outpouring of love surrounding us during this unimaginable time. We know Jeff would be deeply moved by the number of people uplifting our family.

Jeff was incredibly proud to serve our country, and we are committed to honoring his life and legacy.

As we continue to grieve and process this heartbreaking loss, we kindly ask for privacy.

- Roxane O’Brien

O’Brien is survived by a wife and children, according to his aunt, Mary Melchert, who posted on Facebook. Melchert said O’Brien “was the sweetest blue-eyed, blonde farm kid you’d ever know. He is so missed already.”

ProCircular shared the following statement:

“ProCircular deeply mourns the loss of Jeff O’Brien, Manager of Defensive Cyber Operations, who tragically lost his life while serving our country. Jeff was admired not only for his skill and leadership but also for his compassion toward new team members, his uplifting humor during challenging times, and his calm guidance in high-pressure situations.

“His quiet strength and expertise protected countless systems and left a lasting impact on everyone privileged to work with him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jeff’s family and hold them in our thoughts. If the family shares any information about a memorial or a way to pay tribute, we will pass that along. Until then, we ask that their privacy be honored and that remembrances be shared within our community.”

From the Corridor Business Journal corridorbusiness.com 03/05/26

ProCircular mourns loss of employee, Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien killed in Kuwait strike
By: CBJ News Staff March 5, 2026

A Coralville cybersecurity company is grieving the loss of one of its own after a Waukee man was identified as one of six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in an Iranian strike on a military facility in Kuwait.

The U.S. Defense Department identified Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, as one of the soldiers killed March 1 when Iran struck a tactical operations center at Kuwait’s Port of Shuaiba. Mr. O’Brien was an employee at ProCircular, a Coralville-based cybersecurity firm, where he served as manager of defensive cyber operations.

ProCircular CEO Aaron Warner confirmed Mr. O’Brien’s death in an emailed statement, describing him as a skilled and compassionate leader whose impact extended well beyond technical expertise.

“Jeff was admired not only for his skill and leadership but also for his compassion toward new team members, his uplifting humor during challenging times, and his calm guidance in high-pressure situations,” Mr. Warner said in an email statement. “His quiet strength and expertise protected countless systems and left a lasting impact on everyone privileged to work with him.”

The company also posted a tribute on social media, echoing Mr. Warner’s sentiments and asking that Mr. O’Brien’s family be given privacy as they grieve. ProCircular said it will not be conducting media interviews and asked journalists to respect the family and employees during the period.

According to a U.S. Army Reserve news release, Mr. O’Brien was commissioned as a Signal Corps Officer in 2012 and had previously deployed to Kuwait in 2019, earning multiple awards and decorations. He had nominated ProCircular for recognition as a supportive employer of Army Reserve service members.

All six soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines. Also killed in the attack were Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska. The sixth soldier had not been publicly identified at the time of publication.

Mr. O’Brien’s death drew condolences from Iowa’s political leadership. Gov. Kim Reynolds called the losses heartbreaking in a statement Wednesday.

“Our hearts are broken by the deaths of Major Jeffrey O’Brien and Sergeant Declan Coady, two brave Iowa soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to secure freedom and peace,” Reynolds said. “On behalf of a grateful state, Kevin and I offer our prayers and condolences for their families.”

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said he and his wife are offering prayers for Iowa’s Gold Star Families and called Mr. O’Brien’s heroism something that “will be remembered forever.” State Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner called the news devastating and added: “Every loss of life is a tragedy, but it’s made that much worse when it happens so far from home.”

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn said in a social media post that he had spoken with leaders at the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Fort Des Moines and confirmed that families of all six soldiers killed had been notified. He added that nine soldiers from the unit were wounded in the strike and had since arrived at a U.S. base in Germany for medical evaluation.

ProCircular said it will share information about any memorial or tribute opportunities with its community once the family provides guidance.

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ProCircular deeply mourns the loss of Jeff O'Brien of our Defensive Cyber Operations, who tragically lost his life while serving our country. Jeff was admired not only for his skill and leadership but also for his compassion toward new team members, his uplifting humor during challenging times, and his calm guidance in high-pressure situations. His quiet strength and expertise protected countless systems and left a lasting impact on everyone privileged to work with him.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jeff’s family and hold them in our thoughts. If the family shares any information about a memorial or a way to pay tribute, we will pass that along. Until then, we ask that their privacy be honored and that remembrances be shared within our community.