Derrick Anderson has been confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC). The former Green Beret will be advising the undersecretary of defense for policy and will oversee and advocate for SOF and IW within the Department of Defense. Anderson has served on the National Security Council and within the Department of the Army. While in the Army he served as an ODA commander and company executive officer.
He was nominated by the President on June 2, 2025. Hearings were held by the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 18, 2025. As part of the Senate nomination and confirmation process he provided a statement to the Senate in advance to his hearing as well as answers to 79 questions relating to duties, qualifications, conflicts of interest, relationships, challenges and priorities, the global security environment, oversight of USSOCOM, budget, use of military force, SOF, terrorism, intelligence, IW, WMD, and many other topics. (PDF document, 30 pages)
Education. Anderson graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 2006 with a B.S. in Political Science. He was in Army ROTC and upon graduation was commissioned into the United States Army as an Infantry Officer. He graduated with a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019.
Army Assignments:
- Platoon Leader with the 3rd Infantry Division – deployment to Iraq for 15 mos during “The Surge”.
- Platoon Leader with the 3rd Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard”.
- Special Forces “A” Detachment Commander (ODA) x 2, 5th SFG(A)
- Company Executive Officer for two Special Forces “B teams”, 5th SFG(A)
- While assigned to SF he deployed to Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon.
- After his active duty service he entered the District of Columbia Army National Guard.
Schools and Awards. Anderson attended numerous military schools during his Army service to include Arabic language training, SERE-C, SFQC, JM, Ranger, Air Assault, Pathfinder, and more. His awards include the CIB, EIB, Master Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, any many others.
Post-Army Career:
- After attaining his J.D. in 2019 he clerked for two separate federal judges where he worked on a variety of civil and criminal cases.
- In addition, Anderson has worked for a law firm and has been a candidate for U.S. Congress.
- In January 2025 he was appointed as Director of Counterterrorism, National Security Council.
- From April to December 2025 he served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
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Army Biography (2025, PDF, 2 pgs)
