Lynn served as Chief Secretary from 1992 to 1994. In a career spanning 34 years, he held several important positions in the state and Central governments. He served as Secretary to three Chief Ministers, Veerendra Patil, D Devaraj Urs and (briefly) R Gundu Rao for ten years.
He also held the posts of Home and Industries Secretaries to the government of Karnataka, before being appointed Chairman of the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and simultaneously Chairman of KSTDC.
Subsequently, he was posted to Delhi, where he served in the Departments of Coal and Personnel before being appointed Chairman of the Food Corporation of India in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.