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Leadership of the United States Special Operations Command

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Seal of the United States Special Operations Command

This is a list of all commanders, deputy commanders, vice commanders, senior enlisted leaders, and chiefs of staff of the United States Special Operations Command. Note that articles in red text are yet to be created.

Current combatant command staff

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List of commanders of the United States Special Operations Command

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Commander of the United States Special Operations Command
Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command
since 30 August 2022
United States Department of Defense
TypeUnified combatant commander
AbbreviationCDRUSSOCOM[6]
Reports toPresident of the United States
Secretary of Defense
SeatMacDill Air Force Base, Florida, U.S.
NominatorSecretary of Defense
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length2–3 years
(approx.)
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 167
Formation16 April 1987
First holderDuane H. Cassidy
DeputyDeputy Commander, United States Special Operations Command
No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
James J. Lindsay
Lindsay, James J.General
James J. Lindsay
(1932–2023)
16 April 198727 June 19903 years, 72 days
U.S. Army
2
Carl Stiner
Stiner, Carl W.General
Carl Stiner
(1936–2022)
27 June 199020 May 19932 years, 327 days
U.S. Army
3
Wayne A. Downing
Downing, Wayne A.General
Wayne A. Downing
(1940–2007)
20 May 199329 February 19962 years, 285 days
U.S. Army
4
Hugh Shelton
Shelton, Henry H.General
Hugh Shelton
(born 1942)
29 February 199625 September 19971 year, 209 days
U.S. Army
-
Raymond C. Smith
Smith, Raymond C. Jr.Rear Admiral
Raymond C. Smith
(1943–2022)
Acting
25 September 19975 November 199741 days
U.S. Navy
5
Peter Schoomaker
Schoomaker, PeterGeneral
Peter Schoomaker
(born 1946)
5 November 199727 October 20002 years, 357 days
U.S. Army
6
Charles R. Holland
Holland, Charles R.General
Charles R. Holland
(born 1948)
27 October 20002 September 20032 years, 310 days
U.S. Air Force
7
Bryan D. Brown
Brown, Bryan D.General
Bryan D. Brown
(born 1948)
2 September 20039 July 20073 years, 310 days
U.S. Army
8
Eric T. Olson
Olson, Eric T.Admiral
Eric T. Olson
(born 1952)
9 July 20078 August 20114 years, 30 days
U.S. Navy
9
William H. McRaven
McRaven, William H.Admiral
William H. McRaven
(born 1955)
8 August 201128 August 20143 years, 20 days
U.S. Navy
10
Joseph Votel
Votel, Joseph L.General
Joseph Votel
(born 1958)
28 August 201430 March 20161 year, 215 days
U.S. Army
11
Raymond A. Thomas
Thomas, Raymond A.General
Raymond A. Thomas
(born 1958)
30 March 201629 March 20192 years, 364 days
U.S. Army
12
Richard D. Clarke
Clarke, Richard D.General
Richard D. Clarke
(born 1962)
29 March 201930 August 20223 years, 154 days
U.S. Army
13
Bryan P. Fenton
Fenton, Bryan P.General
Bryan P. Fenton
(born 1965)
30 August 2022Incumbent2 years, 53 days
U.S. Army

List of deputy commanders of the United States Special Operations Command

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No. Deputy Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Harry A. Goodall
Goodall, Harry A.Lieutenant General
Harry A. Goodall
16 April 1987May 1988~1 year, 29 days
U.S. Air Force
2
Hugh L. Cox III
Cox, Hugh L. IIIMajor General
Hugh L. Cox III
May 1988July 1990~2 years, 61 days
U.S. Air Force
3
Donald Snyder
Snyder, DonaldMajor General
Donald Snyder
July 1990May 1991~304 days
U.S. Air Force
4
Thomas E. Eggers
Eggers, Thomas E.Major General
Thomas E. Eggers
June 1991July 1993~2 years, 30 days
U.S. Air Force
5
Irve C. Le Moyne
Le Moyne, Irve C.Rear Admiral
Irve C. Le Moyne
(1940–1997)
July 1993May 1996~2 years, 305 days
U.S. Navy
6
James C. McCombs
McCombs, James C.Major General
James C. McCombs
May 19961997~1 year, 46 days
U.S. Air Force
7
Raymond C. Smith
Smith, Raymond C.Rear Admiral
Raymond C. Smith
(1943–2022)
19972001~4 years, 0 days
U.S. Navy
8
Bryan D. Brown
Brown, Bryan D.Lieutenant General
Bryan D. Brown
20022003~1 year, 0 days
U.S. Army
9
Eric T. Olson
Olson, Eric T.Vice Admiral
Eric T. Olson
(born 1952)
2003July 2007~4 years, 15 days
U.S. Navy
10
Francis H. Kearney III
Kearney, Francis H. IIILieutenant General
Francis H. Kearney III
July 2007~April 2010~2 years, 274 days
U.S. Army
11
David P. Fridovich
Fridovich, David P.Lieutenant General
David P. Fridovich
~April 2010December 2011~1 year, 244 days
U.S. Army
12
John F. Mulholland Jr.
Mulholland, John F. Jr.Lieutenant General
John F. Mulholland Jr.
(born 1955)
August 2012July 2014~1 year, 334 days
U.S. Army
13
Sean A. Pybus
Pybus, Sean A.Vice Admiral
Sean A. Pybus
(born 1957)
July 2014July 2016~2 years, 0 days
U.S. Navy
14
Joseph Osterman
Osterman, JosephLieutenant General
Joseph Osterman
(born 1960)
July 201615 October 2018~2 years, 92 days
U.S. Marine Corps
15
Timothy Szymanski
Szymanski, TimothyVice Admiral
Timothy Szymanski
(born 1962)
15 October 201816 December 20213 years, 62 days
U.S. Navy
16
Collin P. Green
Green, Collin P.Vice Admiral
Collin P. Green
(born 1962)
16 December 202120 January 20242 years, 35 days
U.S. Navy
17
Sean M. Farrell
Farrell, Sean M.Lieutenant General
Sean M. Farrell
27 March 2024Incumbent209 days
U.S. Air Force

List of vice commanders of the United States Special Operations Command

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No. Deputy Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Eric E. Fiel
Fiel, Eric E.Lieutenant General
Eric E. Fiel
11 June 201019 July 20111 year, 38 days
U.S. Air Force
2
Bradley A. Heithold
Heithold, Bradley A.Lieutenant General
Bradley A. Heithold
19 July 201116 June 20142 years, 332 days
U.S. Air Force
3
Thomas J. Trask
Trask, Thomas J.Lieutenant General
Thomas J. Trask
16 June 20142 August 20173 years, 47 days
U.S. Air Force
4
Scott A. Howell
Howell, Scott A.Lieutenant General
Scott A. Howell
(born 1965)
2 August 201729 July 2018361 days
U.S. Air Force
5
James C. Slife
Slife, James C.Lieutenant General
James C. Slife
(born 1967)
29 July 2018June 2019~321 days
U.S. Air Force
6
Tony D. Bauernfeind
Bauernfeind, Tony D.Lieutenant General
Tony D. Bauernfeind
31 June 20209 December 20222 years, 162 days
U.S. Air Force
7
Francis L. Donovan
Donovan, Francis L.Lieutenant General
Francis L. Donovan
~15 December 2022Incumbent~1 year, 312 days
U.S. Marine Corps

List of senior enlisted leaders of the United States Special Operations Command

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No. Senior enlisted leader Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Rudolph E. Boesch
Command Master Chief
Rudolph E. Boesch
(1928–2019)
April 1987April 1990~3 years, 0 days
U.S. Navy
2
Michael I. Lampe
Chief Master Sergeant
Michael I. Lampe
(born 1949)
April 19911997~6 years, 0 days
U.S. Air Force
3
Melvin L. Wick
Command Sergeant Major
Melvin L. Wick
1997August 2000~3 years, 134 days
U.S. Army
4
Richard M. Rogers
Command Master Chief
Richard M. Rogers
August 200027 August 2003~2 years, 364 days
U.S. Navy
5
Robert V. Martens Jr.
Chief Master Sergeant
Robert V. Martens Jr.
27 August 200323 January 20062 years, 149 days
U.S. Air Force
6
Thomas H. Smith
Command Sergeant Major
Thomas H. Smith
23 January 200627 September 20115 years, 247 days
U.S. Army
7
James C. Faris
Command Sergeant Major
James C. Faris
27 September 201115 October 20143 years, 18 days
U.S. Army
8
William F. Thetford
Command Sergeant Major
William F. Thetford
15 October 20147 July 20161 year, 266 days
U.S. Army
9
Patrick L. McCauley
Command Sergeant Major
Patrick L. McCauley
7 July 201611 July 20193 years, 4 days
U.S. Army
10
Gregory A. Smith
Command Chief Master Sergeant
Gregory A. Smith
11 July 20194 August 20223 years, 24 days
U.S. Air Force
11
Shane W. Shorter
Command Sergeant Major
Shane W. Shorter
4 August 2022Incumbent2 years, 79 days
U.S. Army

List of chiefs of staff of the United States Special Operations Command

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No. Chief of Staff Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
-
Gary W. Heckman
Brigadier General
Gary W. Heckman
December 1997August 1998~243 days
U.S. Air Force
-
Joseph Votel
Major General
Joseph Votel
(born 1958)
~3 May 2010May 2011~1 year, 12 days
U.S. Army
-
Mark A. Clark
Major General
Mark A. Clark
May 2011August 2012~1 year, 92 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
James B. Laster
Major General
James B. Laster
August 20122014~1 year, 319 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
Walter Lee Miller Jr.
Major General
Walter Lee Miller Jr.
~2014~October 2015~1 year, 107 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
J. Marcus Hicks
Major General
J. Marcus Hicks
October 2015June 2017~1 year, 243 days
U.S. Air Force
-
James C. Slife
Major General
James C. Slife
(born 1967)
June 2017June 2018~1 year, 0 days
U.S. Air Force
-
James B. Linder
Major General
James B. Linder
July 2018July 2019~1 year, 0 days
U.S. Army
-
Tony D. Bauernfeind
Major General
Tony D. Bauernfeind
July 2019August 2020~1 year, 31 days
U.S. Air Force
-
Collin P. Green
Rear Admiral
Collin P. Green
(born 1962)
15 October 2020September 2021~335 days
U.S. Navy
-
Marcus S. Evans
Major General
Marcus S. Evans
(born 1970)
September 2021August 2023~1 year, 334 days
U.S. Army
-
Milton Sands III
Rear Admiral
Milton Sands III
31 July 2023July 2024~336 days
U.S. Navy
-
Guillaume Beaurpere
Major General
Guillaume Beaurpere
July 2024Incumbent~113 days
U.S. Army

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Brigadier General Constantin E. Nicolet - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
  2. ^ a b https://www.socom.mil/FactBook/2023%20Fact%20Book.pdf
  3. ^ "Kim Field - U.S. Special Operations Command | LinkedIn".
  4. ^ "Major General Steven M. Marks - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
  5. ^ "National Guard Biography". www.nationalguard.mil.
  6. ^ "DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, January 2021" (PDF). jcs.mil. Retrieved 15 May 2021.