Frank Shines

Frank Shines, who sometimes writes as Frank "Rio" Shines, is an American author, business and technology consultant, and former military officer. Born Franklin Pierce Shines, Jr. in California, he earned a Presidential Appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and served his country for more than a decade as an Air Force officer, flying military jets.

After his military service, Shines built a career as a business and technology consultant, working with firms including Ernst & Young and IBM and advising corporate executives and military leaders around the world. He specializes in process and technology innovation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, particularly in the healthcare and life sciences industries, and holds an MBA along with credentials as a Six Sigma Black Belt.

Shines is the author of Let in But Left Out: Leadership, Faith & Knowledge in the Age of AI, Coronavirus & Fake News, written with his younger brother Granison Shines. The book is a field guide for adapting to rapid change in a hyper-connected, AI-driven world, weaving together their family's multigenerational story with observations on leadership, technology, and society.

Drawing on a life that has spanned the military, elite consulting, and entrepreneurship, Shines writes about navigating disruption, social change, and the accelerating pace of technological transformation. His work blends personal narrative with practical guidance for leaders facing an uncertain future.