Special Operations Command Pacific
{{Short description|United States military unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Special Operations Command, Pacific
| image= Special Operations Command Pacific insignia.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=SOCPAC insignia
|dates= 1 November 1965 – present
|country={{flag|United States of America}}
|allegiance=
|branch=
|type= Special Operations
|role= Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests and plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks
|size=
|command_structure=20px United States Special Operations Command
20px United States Indo-Pacific Command
|garrison=Camp H. M. Smith
|motto=
|colors= {{legend2|#9F885F|Tan|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#78021A|Maroon|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#1B4D3E|Rifle green|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
| colors_label = Color of berets (U.S. Army Personnel)
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines
|anniversaries=
|commander1= RADM Jeromy B. Williams
|commander1_label= Commander
|notable_commanders=P. Gardner Howe, III
| identification_symbol = File:Special Operations Command Pacific insignia.png
| identification_symbol_label = Distinctive unit insignia (U.S. Army personnel)
| identification_symbol_2 = File:SOCPAC_flash.png
| identification_symbol_2_label = Beret flash (U.S. Army Personnel)
| identification_symbol_3 = File:SOCPAC SSI.png
| identification_symbol_3_label = Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (U.S. Army Personnel)
}}
The Special Operations Command Pacific, known as SOCPAC, is a sub-unified command of the United States Department of Defense for special operations forces in the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) area of responsibility.
History
The Special Operations Center, Pacific Command was established 1 November 1965. Headquartered in Okinawa, the unit provided unconventional warfare task force support for operations in Southeast Asia. After these functions transferred to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), the command dissolved on 1 July 1969. A special operations staff was established in the CINCPAC Operations Directorate on 15 May 1976, for planning and coordinating in-theater special operations.{{cite web |title= Special Operations Command, Pacific |work=official web site |url= http://www.socpac.socom.mil/ |accessdate=9 October 2010 }}
In October 1983, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff established special operations commands in the Pacific and European Theaters. Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) was activated on 1 November 1983 with only eighteen personnel. Six years later, on 28 December 1989, SOCPAC was assigned operational control of what is now the 353d Special Operations Group and 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), which are located on Okinawa, Japan at Kadena Air Base and Torii Station, respectively. On 8 July 1991, SOCPAC assumed control of Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-Pacific and a platoon of United States Navy SEALs, based at Apra Harbor in Guam. In early March 2001, SOCPAC established the Joint Special Operations Aviation Component. On 11 June 2001, SOCPAC gained control over E Company, 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), which is based in Daegu in South Korea.
As a subordinate unified command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, SOCPAC units deploy throughout the Pacific. SOCPAC annually conducts small unit exchanges, joint and combined training events, and operational deployments throughout the Pacific. Units are used for counterdrug and humanitarian demining operations, training forces in countries such as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. SOCPAC hosts an annual Pacific Area Special Operations Conference in Hawaii for over 200 U.S. and foreign delegates.
The command can operate as a rapidly deployable Joint Task Force. In January 2002, SOCPAC deployed to the Southern Philippines as JTF 510, conducting counterterrorist operations with the Philippine Government under Operation Enduring Freedom. The force redeployed on 1 September 2002, leaving elements to form the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Peppery Philippines with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The command is headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith in Hawaii.
From 1995 to 1997 Air Force General Charles R. Holland commanded SOCPAC.{{cite web |title= General Charles R. Holland |work= official biography |publisher= United States Air Force |year= 2003 |url= http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5834 |accessdate= 10 October 2010 |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120722111134/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5834 |archivedate= 22 July 2012 |url-status= dead}}
From 2000 to 2003 Donald C. Wurster was commander,{{cite web |title= Lt. General Donald C. Wurster |work= official biography |publisher= United States Air Force |year= 2010 |url= http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7672 |accessdate= 10 October 2010 |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120724143338/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7672 |archivedate= 24 July 2012 |url-status= dead}}
David P. Fridovich commanded from 2005 to 2007, and then Salvatore F. Cambria.{{cite news |title= Cambria Takes Helm at Special Operations Command-Pacific |date= September 2007 |work=Special Warfare |volume=20 |number=5 |url= http://www.soc.mil/swcs/swmag/07sept.pdf |accessdate=10 October 2010 }}
In June 2009 Rear Admiral Sean A. Pybus became commander of SOCPAC.{{cite web |title= Rear Admiral Sean A. Pybus: Commander, Special Operations Command Pacific |work=official US Navy Biography |date= 1 October 2009 |url= http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=502 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090806012249/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=502 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 6 August 2009 |accessdate=9 October 2010 }}
From 2020 to 2021, under the leadership of Jonathan P. Braga, the command oversaw a propaganda campaign to spread disinformation about the Chinese-manufactured COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac.{{Cite news |last1=Bing |first1=Chris |last2=Schechtman |first2=Joel |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Pentagon Ran Secret Anti-Vax Campaign to Undermine China during Pandemic |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ |access-date=June 22, 2024 |work=Reuters}} Reuters described the U.S. campaign as designed to "counter what it perceived as China’s growing influence in the Philippines". A Pentagon spokesperson stated it was a response to "China's COVID diplomacy and propaganda." As part of the campaign, military personnel and contractors at MacDill Air Force Base operated hundreds of fake social media accounts which targeted the Philippines and later expanded to Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The private defense contractor for the project was General Dynamics IT.
List of commanders
{{incomplete list|date=April 2021}}
- Maj Gen Charles R. Holland, June 1995 – June 1997
- Brig Gen Donald C. Wurster, October 2000 – February 2003
- MG David P. Fridovich, 2005 to 2007
- Salvatore F. Cambria
- RADM Sean A. Pybus, June 2009
- Maj Gen Norman J. Brozenick Jr., June 2011{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108340/major-general-norman-j-brozenick-jr/|title=MAJOR GENERAL NORMAN J. BROZENICK JR.|website=www.af.mil}}
- RADM P. Gardner Howe III, 10 June 2013{{Cite web|url=https://www.pacom.mil/Media/Speeches-Testimony/Article/565142/special-operations-command-pacific-change-of-command/|title=Special Operations Command Pacific Change of Command|website=U.S. Indo-Pacific Command}}
- RADM Colin J. Kilrain, ~August 2014
- MG Bryan P. Fenton, 9 June 2016
- MajGen Daniel D. Yoo, 12 May 2017{{Cite web|url=https://www.pacom.mil/Media/Photos/igphoto/2001747254/|title=Special Operations Command, Pacific Change of Command|website=www.pacom.mil}}
- MG Jonathan P. Braga, 27 July 2018{{Cite web |title=Brigadier General Jonathan P. Braga, Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific |url=https://www.socom.mil/socpac/Documents/Braga%20Bio.pdf |access-date=September 11, 2022}}
- MG Joshua M. Rudd, 14 August 2020{{cite web|url=https://www.socom.mil/socpac/Pages/Commanders-Biography.aspx|title=SOCPAC Change of Command|date=27 July 2018|website=SOCPAC|accessdate=5 September 2020}}{{Cite web |title=Chief of Staff, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |url=https://www.pacom.mil/Contact/Directory/Bio-Display/Article/3122376/chief-of-staff-us-indo-pacific-command/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pacom.mil%2FContact%2FDirectory%2FBio-Display%2FArticle%2F3122376%2Fchief-of-staff-us-indo-pacific-command%2F |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.pacom.mil |language=en-US}}
- RDML Jeromy B. Williams, 19 July 2022{{Cite web| title=Rear Admiral Jeromy B. Williams Commander | publisher=Special Operations Command Pacific | url=https://www.socom.mil/socpac/Documents/RDML%20Williams%20Bio_FINAL.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821152229/https://www.socom.mil/socpac/Documents/RDML%20Williams%20Bio_FINAL.pdf | archive-date=2022-08-21}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{US Special Operations Forces}}
Category:Military units and formations in Hawaii