Adm. 'Mitch' Bradley, praised by colleagues for his role in 2nd boat attack

Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, who led the highly debated September 2 attacks on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, has spent decades serving as a Navy SEAL and advancing to oversee all U.S. special operations worldwide. Bradley is scheduled to brief Congress on Thursday as part of a bipartisan inquiry into the incident, which involved a second strike on two survivors who had returned to the boat after an initial assault, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The survivors were reportedly killed in the second strike because they were still considered active threats, communicating with nearby ships and handling some of the boats drug cargo. The White House and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that Bradley authorized the follow-up strike. Hegseth, who monitored the first strike, stated he did not observe any survivors or subsequent attacks. Admiral Bradley made the correct decision to neutralize the threat, Hegseth said, emphasizing that the decision was supported by his team.

At the time of the operation, Bradley was a three-star admiral in charge of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), responsible for high-level missions involving units such as SEAL Team Six and Delta Force. A 1991 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a physics degree and experience as a varsity gymnast, Bradley has commanded at every level of U.S. special operations. He also earned a Masters in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he received a provisional patent for his research in 2006.

Colleagues and former subordinates describe Bradley as an exceptionally intelligent and morally grounded leader. Retired Navy Commander Eric Oelerich, a former SEAL, called Bradley one of the most intelligent officers and praised his mentorship and adaptive leadership. Retired Brigadier General Shawn Harris, now a congressional candidate, also described Bradley as an outstanding leader.

While typically operating behind the scenes, Bradley made a rare public appearance in July during his Senate confirmation hearing for the four-star command of U.S. Special Operations Command, which oversees JSOC. He emphasized adherence to the laws of war and civilian protection as core responsibilities of his command. It is critical to represent our values and protect civilians in all operations, he told Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren responded, That is a strong answer, and I appreciate it.

The administration has defended the strikes, asserting that the 11 people killed in the September 2 attack, along with over 80 others killed in related Caribbean and Pacific operations, were combatants and not civilians. However, some former military lawyers argue that the follow-up strike may have targeted individuals no longer actively engaged in hostilities, raising legal and ethical questions.

Author: Logan Reeves