In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, U.S. special operations forces (SOF) rose to the forefront of the American public’s consciousness as the right tool for the task in Afghanistan. In the last several decades, there have been many changes to the structure, organization and makeup of SOF. In 2013, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) created Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH), the theater special operations command (TSOC) for USNORTHCOM. In the studio today is Colonel Matthew Tucker, commander SOCNORTH, to explain just why the nation needs a TSOC on its own continent. Matt joins host Tom Spahr to explain how SOF detects, deters and disrupts threats throughout the USNORTHCOM area of responsibility through cooperation with SOF partners in Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas.
In general, a theater special operations command is the SOF component of the geographic combatant command. We are responsible for the planning and execution of SOF operations in support of geographic combatant command objectives…SOF’s value proposition is to be the nation’s most exquisite problem solvers.
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Matthew Tucker is a career Special Forces officer and a colonel in the U.S. Army and the current commander of Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH). COL Tucker has served in the European, Pacific, African and Northern Command theaters. He has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thomas W. Spahr is the DeSerio Chair of Theater and Strategic Intelligence at the U.S. Army War College. He is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army and holds a Ph.D. in History from The Ohio State University. He teaches courses at the Army War College on Military Campaigning and Intelligence.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: U.S. Navy SEALs conduct a High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) airborne operation in support of exercise Arctic Edge 2022 in Deadhorse, Alaska, on March 4, 2022. Arctic Edge is a U.S. Northern Command exercise hosted by Alaskan Command enabling Special Operations Command North to demonstrate its special operations capabilities in extreme cold weather conditions.
Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Alexzandria Gomez