Jonathan P. Braga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Jon[1] |
| Born | 19 June 1969 Attleboro, Massachusetts[2] |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1991–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | United States Army Special Operations Command Special Operations Command Pacific JSOC – Army Pacific 7th Special Forces Group Delta Force |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War Operation Inherent Resolve |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (4) |
Jonathan Patrick Braga[3] (born 19 June 1969)[4] is a United States Army lieutenant general, serving as the commanding general of United States Army Special Operations Command since 13 August 2021.[5] He previously served as a deputy commanding general of United States Army Pacific from August 2020 to July 2021, as commander of Special Operations Command Pacific from July 2018 to August 2020,[6] and before that as operations director of Operation Inherent Resolve, the official name for the US war on ISIS.[7]
On 12 August 2021, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of the United States Army Special Operations Command one day later, succeeding Francis M. Beaudette.[8][9]
Braga graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in national security public affairs, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Infantry Branch in 1991.[3][10] His first assignment was rifle platoon leader with the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army in South Korea, followed by service with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, California. He then attended Army Special Forces Qualification Course and served with the 7th Special Forces Group from 1995 to 2001 as Operational Detachment-A commander and Company Executive Commander. Braga completed the selection course for assignment to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He would serve numerous leadership positions as squadron operations officer and troop commander with deployments on Operation Iraqi Freedom until 2005.[2] Braga earned a master's degree from the Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College in 2006 and transferred to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in Washington, D.C. Braga returned to United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in 2008 and served as operations officer, Squadron Commander and Deputy Unit Commander.
Braga's most recent assignments include: Army War College Special Operations Fellow at the Naval Postgraduate School, Garrison Commander of the National Training Center in Fort Irwin from 2013 to 2015; Chief of Staff at Joint Special Operations Command from 2015 to 2017 and Director of Operations, Combined Joint Task Force—Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in Iraq. Braga assumed command as Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific on 27 July 2018.
Braga praised the collaboration with Kurdish troops on the ground:[7]
I'm very impressed. These people stood up without any international support. [...] It's the partnership we wished for, but never had, [...] I think the world owes them a debt of gratitude. They were the first to stand up against [ISIS].
— Jonathan P. Braga, 30 March 2018[7]
Braga is the son of Reid and Mary Braga.[3]
Braga is married to the former Melanie Rohrbaugh of Apple Valley, Calif. The couple has five children.[citation needed] Braga and Rohrbaugh were married on 4 September 1999 at Fort Bragg.[3]
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