Notable members of the US Navy SEALs and UDTs From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This list of United States Navy SEALs includes both current and former notable members of the Naval Special Warfare teams, known as "SEALs" for "SEa", "Air" and "Land", the full spectrum of environments in which they operate.
Harry Beal–Underwater demolition team member, he was the first to volunteer for the SEAL program at its founding in 1962.
Chris Beck–DEVGRU member. After retiring Beck came out as a transgender woman in 2013, changed his name to Kristin and co-authored the memoir Warrior Princess. In 2022, he detransitioned and became an anti-trans activist.
Roy Boehm–WWII Pacific War veteran. First commanding officer of SEAL Team Two (1962), considered godfather of all SEALs.
Rudy Boesch–Founding member of SEAL Team Two in 1962 and Vietnam War veteran. He was a competitor in the TV reality shows Survivor and Survivor: All-Stars, and host of the reality series Combat Missions. Former "Bullfrog" or longest-serving active-duty SEAL member.
Matt Bracken–SEAL officer, served in Beirut. Author of "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" series and conservative political commentator who has published or been interviewed on InfoWars, Instapundit, and other right of center sites. BUD/S Class 105.
Frank M. Bradley–Vice admiral and Commander of Special Operations Command Central.
Phil H. Bucklew–First commanding officer, Naval Operations Support Group One (later renamed Naval Special Warfare Group One), twice awarded the Navy Cross and considered the "Father of Modern SPECWAR."
Edward C. Byers Jr.–Medal of Honor recipient; as an assault team member attached to a Joint Task Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 8 December 2012 when he rescued an American hostage (Dr. Dilip Joseph) in the Qarghah’i District of Laghman Province, Afghanistan.[1]
James F. Cahill–First person to scuba dive in New England waters, founder of first retail scuba diving chain, one of the first UDT members.
Jack Carr–Former sniper and officer with 20 years of service. Became a successful author after retiring.
Christopher Cassidy–NASA Astronaut, SEAL platoon commander at SEAL Team Two and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two. Graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
Dick Couch–Author of several books on SEALs including The Warrior Elite: Forging of SEAL Class 228, The Finishing School, and Down Range: Navy SEALs in the War on Terrorism. Graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
Mark L. Donald–Navy Cross recipient during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Eddie Gallagher–Chief Petty Officer. Notable for a controversial war crime case in which he was acquitted.
David Goggins–Only member in the US Armed Forces to complete SEAL training, Ranger School, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training.[2] Also an ultra-marathon runner, motivational speaker, and world record holder.[specify]
Robert Harward–Vice admiral and former commanding officer of SEAL Team Three and Naval Special Warfare Group One. Former DEVGRU assault team leader and graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
Jonny Kim–Graduate of Harvard Medical School (M.D.); NASA astronaut; Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat "V" device.
Erik S. Kristensen–Graduate of the United States Naval Academy, killed during rescue mission as part of Operation Red Wings.
Alexander Krongard–Retired Rear Admiral and former commanding officer, SEAL Team Seven, Naval Special Warfare Group One.
Chris Kyle–Iraq War veteran and sniper with SEAL Team Three. With a record 160 confirmed kills (of a claimed 255), he was labelled the "Most lethal sniper in US military history".
Kevin Lacz–Former SEAL Team Three sniper, New York Times bestselling author of "The Last Punisher", and actor and technical advisor in the Oscar-winning Chris Kyle biopic American Sniper.
Michael D. Lumpkin–Served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict 2013–2016. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Special Envoy US Department of State in 2017. Selected as Commissioner on Afghanistan War Commission in April 2022.
Marcus Luttrell–Navy Cross recipient for heroism, sole survivor of Operation Red Wings. Twin brother of Morgan Luttrell.
Richard Marcinko–Served two combat tours in the Vietnam War before serving as commanding officer of SEAL Team Two (1974–1976). First commanding officer of SEAL Team Six from October 1980 to July 1983 and Red Cell from 1984 to 1986; co-author of New York Times bestsellerRogue Warrior.
Scott P. Moore–Retired Rear admiral and former commanding officer of SEAL Team Two and Naval Special Warfare Development Group from 2007 to 2009. Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.[5]
Eric T. Olson–Veteran of The First Battle of Mogadishu, Silver Star recipient, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group from 1994 to 1997. Former commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. First SEAL to achieve the rank of vice admiral and admiral; the first Navy officer to command US Special Operations Command. Graduate of the United States Naval Academy.
Robert J. O'Neill–Reportedly fired the fatal shots into Osama bin Laden during Operation Neptune Spear in 2011 with DEVGRU. Also participated in the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips during the Maersk Alabama hijacking as well as the rescue of Marcus Luttrell during Operation Red Wings. Later a motivational speaker and author of The Operator.
William Payne–New Mexico state senator, deputy commander of SEAL Team One and deputy director of operations, Center for Special Operations, US Special Operations Command.
Chuck Pfarrer–Former SEAL Team Four and DEVGRU operator from 1984 to 1986; screenwriter with credits including The Jackal, Darkman, Red Planet, Virus, Hard Target, Navy SEALs; author of the New York Times bestseller SEAL Target Geronimo: Inside The Mission to Kill Osama Bin Laden, Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy SEAL and the reality-thriller Killing Che.
Erik Prince–Founder, former CEO, and current chairman of private military contractor Academi, (formerly known as Blackwater).
Jason Redman–Founder and spokesperson of the nonprofit organization Wounded Wear and the author of the memoir The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Officer.
Thomas R. Richards– Vietnam War veteran and Rear admiral. Former commander, Naval Special Warfare Command.
Mike Ritland– Public speaker, podcaster, and working/protection dog trainer. Created the Warrior Dog Foundation [8] which, "transitions our country's working K9s from an operational environment into retirement."
Craig "Sawman" Sawyer–Served in the United States Marine Corps, then transitioned to the Navy to pursue special operations career as a SEAL. He served with SEAL Team One and as a sniper with DEVGRU.
Don Shipley–Served in SEAL Teams One and Two. Former BUD/S and NSW Demolitions instructor.
Britt K. Slabinski–Medal of Honor recipient for actions in Afghanistan (upgraded from Navy Cross in 2018). Former member of DEVGRU from 1994 to 2008 and former command master chief of Naval Special Warfare Group Two.[9] Navy Cross recipient for heroism during Operation Anaconda in 2002.[10]
Neil Smit–Retired Lieutenant Commander at DEVGRU. Former CEO of Comcast.
Raymond Smith–Retired rear admiral and former deputy commander of United States Special Operations Command. Former commanding officer of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One and director of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training from 1981 to 1983. Graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Graduated BUD/S in 1970 and served as a platoon commander during Vietnam War.[11]
Seth Stone–Commander and recipient of two silver stars. Died in a parachuting accident.
Tim Szymanski–Retired vice admiral and former commanding officer of SEAL Team Two and Naval Special Warfare Group Two.[9][12] Former troop, squadron commander, operations officer and deputy commanding officer of DEVGRU. Graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Former Commanding Officer, Naval Special Warfare Command (2016–2018).
Jocko Willink–Received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his actions in the Iraq War. Willink was commander of SEAL Team Three's Task Unit Bruiser during the 2006 Battle of Ramadi. Author of the book Extreme Ownership along with fellow SEAL Leif Babin. Hosts a weekly podcast, The Jocko Podcast, with friend and fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, Echo Charles. Founded the leadership consulting company, Echelon Front, with Babin.
Edward G. Winters, III–Retired rear admiral and former commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (2003–2005) and Naval Special Warfare Command (2008–2011).[13]
Brandon Wolff–Former American mixed martial artist. His twin brother, Brenton, is also a SEAL and a former mixed martial artist.
