{"id":46029,"date":"2020-05-06T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T08:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/06\/congress-should-elevate-the-top-civilian-position-overseeing-special-operations\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:12:37","slug":"congress-should-elevate-the-top-civilian-position-overseeing-special-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2020\/05\/06\/congress-should-elevate-the-top-civilian-position-overseeing-special-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress should elevate the top civilian position overseeing special operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week marked the 40th anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw<\/a>, the failed mission to rescue Americans held hostage in Iran. Despite their patriotism and courage \u2014 \u201cthe guts to try\u201d \u2014 the mission ended in tragedy and cost the lives of eight U.S. servicemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since that fateful day, and especially since the 9\/11 attacks, our special operations forces (SOF) have become the world\u2019s preeminent special operations capability. Thanks to congressional foresight and generous support, our SOF enterprise (all of our military organizations, plus the dedicated civilians who support them) is a unique and powerful capability in our arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1987 Nunn-Cohen Act, vehemently opposed by many in the Pentagon, laid the foundation. It created both U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict (ASD(SO\/LIC))<\/a>. Is this the right construct, however, to ensure that our SOF sustains this dominance for the next 30 years?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To overcome a lack of support from the services, the Nunn-Cohen Act vested USSOCOM with dual roles as a \u201cservice-like\u201d organization (with \u201cman, train, equip\u201d functions) and also as a combatant command. In continuity with our history and culture, Congress sought to ensure the new \u201cservice-like\u201d organization would be under civilian control by simultaneously creating an assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict ASD(SO\/LIC). Congress similarly vested ASD(SO\/LIC) with dual responsibilities: providing \u201coverall supervision (including oversight of policy and resources) of special operations activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1987, the global environment has changed in myriad ways, including the end of the Cold War, the rise of violent Islamists, the globalization of our economy, and the communications revolution. Today, we face a rising and revisionist China, an assertive Russia, and rogue regimes in Tehran and Pyongyang. The COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly have massive international and domestic consequences, including budgetary pressure on DoD. Regardless of our exceptional special operations capabilities today, it is undeniable that the SOF enterprise will face competing priorities both within DoD and the broader federal budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SOF enterprise will face multiple internal and external challenges as they seek to maintain our competitive edge. This transformative challenge will not spare any aspect of the SOF enterprise: recruiting and retaining the right personnel; shaping and guiding culture and ethics; adapting organizations and training; securing funding; developing strategies and tactics to bolster partners and allies; obtaining the authorities and permissions needed to counter adversaries without the use of lethal force. Tough questions abound: what role should SOF play in the future? How should it be resourced? Are the current force structure, capabilities, and culture of SOF the right mix for this role in great power competition? If not, what changes are necessary?<\/p>\n\n\n\t