Brien was born in Abilene, Texas, but raised in Kirwin, Kansas. He graduated from Eastern Heights High School in Agra, Kansas, in 1979. He attended the University of Oklahoma on a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship, and graduated in 1983 with a B.S. in Aviation Education. As part of his degree program, Brien earned his commercial pilot certificate, with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and certified flight instructor certificate. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as an artillery officer, and then as an intelligence officer until 1987. He then enrolled at Wake Forest University Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1990. He became a partner at the law firm of Dean and Gibson in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he practiced in the areas of insurance defense, coverage litigation, aviation accident cases, and insurance fraud cases. He later served as Vice President and General Counsel for Spitfire Aviation, Inc., until returning to Logan, Kansas, in 2003 to open a solo practice law firm. Brien is married to Lynette Stockman, and they make their home in Logan. Between them, they have four children, Cole Archer, Lane Archer, Erin Archer and Riley Stockman. Brien joined the Hansen Board of Trustees in 2016.