The Trump administration is expected to nominate Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley to lead U.S. Special Operations Command, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Two former senior defense officials, a former senior military official from the special operations community, and a current senior military official said that Bradley, a Navy SEAL who now leads Joint Special Operations Command, is the frontrunner to replace Army Gen. Bryan Fenton, who took command of SOCOM in August 2022.
Chris Miller, a longtime special operator who served as acting defense secretary in the first Trump administration and remains close to the White House, also said Bradley is “likely” to be tapped. But Miller added that Bradley is also in the running for the nomination to become chief of naval operations. The CNO’s post has been vacant since January, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti.
SOCOM officials declined to comment except to say that the choice rests with the White House.
Before he led JSOC, Bradley commanded Naval Special Warfare Development Group, better known as SEAL Team Six. He has also done “multiple tours in command of joint task forces, and was among the first to deploy into Afghanistan following the attacks of September 11, 2001,” according to his official bio. He holds a master’s degree in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Several people who knew Bradley personally or professionally described him as highly competent, well-liked, and methodical in his approach to problems and the deployment of forces.
“You couldn’t ask for a better SOCOM commander at this time,” said one former defense official. “He understands both the use and the limitations of kinetic action in a way that I haven’t seen in other commanders. He knows when and when not to use” rapid, lethal force.
A former senior military official who remains close to SOCOM and the special operations community said the White House “loves Mitch because of what [naval special operations] are doing in Yemen. And he is a smart and personable guy.”
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