U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chaired a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to evaluate the nominations of Vice Admiral Mitch Bradley and Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson for leadership roles in U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), respectively.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker highlighted the critical role these commands play in addressing national security challenges. He stressed the need for adequate funding and manpower to meet growing threats.
“Good morning. The committee meets today to consider the nominations of Vice Admiral Mitch Bradley, to be Commander, United States Special Operations Command, and Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson, to be Commander, United States Africa Command,” stated Wicker.
Admiral Bradley’s nomination comes at a time when SOCOM is tasked with countering advanced military threats from China and Russia while remaining engaged against violent Islamic terrorism. Wicker noted that SOCOM’s budget has not increased since 2019, effectively reducing its purchasing power by 14 percent due to inflation.
“We want to ensure that SOCOM is fully resourced to meet the demands placed on it,” said Wicker.
General Anderson will face various threats in Africa, including Chinese military expansion and Russian influence through security assistance trades for natural resources. AFRICOM is currently under-resourced in manpower and critical capabilities like intelligence and surveillance.
“I look forward to General Anderson’s assessment of Africa’s importance to our national security,” Wicker added.
The nominees are expected to address global security challenges posed by aggressive actions from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea during their tenure if confirmed.
