Former Green Beret Nominated to Lead Pentagon Special Ops Oversight Post

President Donald Trump has nominated Derrick Anderson, a former Army Special Forces officer from Virginia, for the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, a significant policy role within the Pentagon.

Anderson's nomination was officially submitted on Monday and has been referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee for the confirmation process. Should the approval be granted, he is set to provide counsel to senior defense officials regarding issues impacting U.S. special operations forces, encompassing areas such as readiness, training, and irregular warfare policy.

Anderson's military service is characterized by its breadth and a significant tragic event. In 2014, during his command of a Green Beret team in Afghanistan, a friendly fire incident occurred, resulting in the deaths of five U.S. soldiers and one Afghan partner. 

An investigation conducted by U.S. Central Command has attributed the incident to a breakdown in communication between ground forces and the crew of a B-1B bomber. In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Anderson asserted that while the investigation identified shared responsibility and coordination errors, faulty bomber sensors were chiefly responsible for the incident. He maintained confidence in the decisions made during the firefight.

Anderson expressed deep feelings of longing for his companions during the interview, stating, “I miss my guys tremendously.” “Ultimately, my team’s actions or inactions did not contribute to the incident.”

After completing his military service, Anderson embarked on a legal education at Georgetown University, where he gained valuable experience by clerking for three federal judges. He made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in Virginia’s 2024 House race.

A Virginia Tech graduate and former infantry officer who served in Iraq during the 2007 surge, Anderson also held a position at Arlington National Cemetery with the 3rd Infantry Regiment, where he was responsible for overseeing burial ceremonies for fallen soldiers.

If confirmed, Anderson is set to contribute battlefield experience, legal expertise, and policy insight to a prominent position at the Pentagon, where he will play a crucial role in shaping the future of U.S. special operations.

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