Weekly SOF Brief – April 27, 2026
News, analysis, and commentary on special operations, conflicts, national security, and defense issues. Ukraine, Iran, technology, drones, A-10 lives on, defense budget, Global Terrorism Index, and more.
SOF
Hung Cao, Navy Veteran, now Acting Secretary of Navy
Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao is now the Acting Secretary of the Navy as of April 22, 2026. He is a retired naval officer with combat experience. He is taking over the duties of Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan who is departing the administration immediately.
The Birth of the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
Original concept drawings and developmental sketches of the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, created in 1983 by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gregory A. Dailey of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), are displayed.
2026 SOF Imperatives by GSOF
The 2026 edition of SOF Imperatives by the Global SOF Foundation (GSOF) features a singular, overriding focus: the urgent need to significantly increase the total top-line budget allocated to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
SOF Weekly Brief – April 20, 2026
This weekly briefing summarizes key developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security over the past seven days. The reporting period reflects continued operational activity related to the Iran conflict, ongoing strategic competition dynamics, and evolving irregular warfare trends.
TRADEWINDS 26 (TW26) – June 2026
TRADEWINDS is an annual SOUTHCOM-sponsored exercise focused on regional security cooperation, yet with global applicability. It brings together security forces from the Caribbean Basin, North America, and selected European countries, incorporating both Field Training Exercise (FTX) and Command Post Exercise (CPX).
May 2026 SOF Events
Here are notable Special Operations Forces (SOF) events happening across the community, including nonprofit fundraisers, networking events, and industry gatherings.
Navy Deploys GARC Sea Drone for Autonomous ISR Operations
The Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) serves as a solution for conducting high-speed, autonomous operations in contested military environments. The GARC naval drone is now in use by the U.S. Navy in the Middle East region in support of Operation Epic Fury.
SOF Weekly Brief – April 13, 2026
Weekly intelligence-style brief covering global SOF activity, Iran conflict developments, maritime security risks in the Strait of Hormuz, emerging irregular warfare trends, and strategic competition updates. Includes analysis of drone warfare, influence operations, and international special operations force developments affecting the global security environment.
3rd Special Forces Group and Transformation for Multidomain Operations
3rd Special Forces Group is transforming its legacy military intelligence company into a robust multidomain operations company. The move enhances the capabilities of special operations interdependence, interoperability and integration across the force.
SOF Weekly Brief – April 6, 2026
News about special operations, conflicts, national security, Operations Epic Fury, training with SOF partner forces, Air Force PJs, and the Russia-Ukraine War.
USASOC Wins Special Operations Sniper Competition
17 elite sniper teams gathered to participate in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, March 15-19, 2026.
Monthly Drone Report – March 2026
Drone warfare continues to evolve rapidly in March 2026, shaping battlefield dynamics across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and other operational theaters. Low-cost unmanned aerial systems (UAS) remain capable of imposing disproportionate operational and economic costs on technologically advanced military forces.
SOF Weekly Brief – Mar 30, 2026
This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. There is a lot happening in the special operations world – modernization, deployments, and technological innovation. Information and influence operations continue to expand as instruments of state power.
SOF Events – April 2026
Looking for upcoming Special Operations community events this April? Here are notable SOF events happening across the community, including nonprofit fundraisers, networking events, and industry gatherings.