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NSW LEADERSHIP




 
Deputy Commander (Active), Naval Special Warfare Command

Capt. Joseph L. Geary

 

Captain Joe Geary, from West Chester, PA, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 with a degree in Ocean Engineering and a minor in Spanish.

He reported to BUD/S and graduated in February 1996 with Class 203. He was assigned to SEAL Team FIVE as an Assistant Platoon Commander and completed his Platoon Commander tour at SEAL Team FOUR. He then supported Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Persian Gulf while assigned to the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON Battle Group Commander.

In January 2001, Captain Geary reported to Naval Special Warfare Development Group and served as a Troop Commander. He then studied at the Institute d’Etudes Politiques in Paris, France as Olmsted Scholar from 2005 to 2007. There he earned a Master’s Degree in International Relations.

In 2007, he reported to NSWDG as a Squadron Executive Officer. From 2009 to 2011, he commissioned Naval Special Unit TEN, in Stuttgart, Germany and served as the Commanding Officer. Following Unit TEN, he was assigned to Special Operations Command, Africa as the Deputy Operations Officer. He then reported to Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan as the Director for Village Stability Operations and Afghan Local Police.

In December 2012, he assumed command of SEAL Team EIGHT and deployed to Afghanistan as a Special Operations Task Force Commander. Following ST-8, he served as the Director for Counterterrorism Policy for the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. Following his Pentagon tour, he was the 2018 Class President at the National War College, Washington, DC where he earned a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy.

In 2018, he served as the NSW Programs and Policy Branch Head, N137, on the OPNAV staff. In 2019, he returned Virginia Beach and has served as the Deputy Commander for Naval Special Warfare Group TWO and Group FOUR. He most recently served as the Commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR from 2022 to 2024.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star (5), three with V-device, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3), Meritorious Service Medal (2) along with other individual, unit and service awards.

He has two sons, Jack and Sam.
 

 


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