Captain Brad Geary - His Time In The Navy And Recent Events

There are moments in life when even those who have given so much to public service find themselves facing incredibly tough situations, and that, in a way, brings us to the story of Captain Brad Geary. For many years, he was a highly respected figure within the Navy SEAL community, someone who had dedicated a great deal of his adult life to serving our country. His time in uniform saw him take on many important roles, often at the very top of his field, leading others through some of the most demanding training and missions imaginable.

However, a truly sad event involving a young SEAL candidate, Kyle Mullen, brought Captain Geary into a difficult spotlight. This particular situation, a tragedy that unfolded after a very intense training period, led to a close look at the training methods and the people in charge. It really put a focus on the immense pressure involved in preparing for such a specialized kind of service, and the heavy responsibilities carried by those overseeing it.

So, what happened with Captain Brad Geary, and how did a person with such a distinguished record find himself in the middle of such a significant public discussion? This piece will look at his long and storied time with the Navy, the sad circumstances that brought about these recent challenges, and the various steps that followed as the Navy and others tried to make sense of everything. It's a story that, you know, touches on many aspects of military life, leadership, and accountability.

Table of Contents

A Look at Captain Brad Geary's Life and Work

Captain Brad Geary has, you know, spent a very long time, nearly a quarter of a century, working within the Naval Special Warfare community. This is a group of people who are part of some of the most specialized and demanding jobs in the military. His time in this area of service is really quite something, spanning twenty-four years of dedication. During this extensive period, he completed many different assignments all over the world, taking on roles where he was in charge of others. For example, he held important leadership spots at places like SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two and also SEAL Team Four, which are both very significant parts of the SEAL world. He was, in fact, the commanding officer at Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command, which is a very important position, based in Coronado, California. This role meant he was directly overseeing the initial training for those hoping to become SEALs.

His background shows a person who has always been connected to the water and service. He grew up in Florida, a state known for its coastlines and naval presence. He went to the United States Naval Academy, a place where future leaders of the Navy are shaped, and he finished his studies there in the year 2000. While at the Academy, he focused on mathematics, which is, you know, a pretty rigorous subject. After that, he went through the very tough SEAL Qualification Training, often just called SQT, and he was part of Class 234. This means he successfully completed one of the most challenging military training programs out there. So, he really has a deep history and connection to the SEAL way of life, and that’s, in a way, what makes the recent events so notable for someone with his kind of record.

Personal Details of Captain Brad Geary

NameCaptain Bradley Geary
BackgroundNative Floridian
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (Graduated 2000, Bachelor's in Mathematics)
SEAL ClassClass 234 (SEAL Qualification Training)
Career LengthTwenty-four years in Naval Special Warfare
Key RolesCommanding Officer, Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command; Leadership positions at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two, SEAL Team Four

What Happened with Captain Brad Geary's Leadership and the Kyle Mullen Incident?

On February 4, 2022, a very sad thing happened: a SEAL candidate named Kyle Mullen, who was 24 years old, passed away after completing Hell Week. This particular week is the third part of basic underwater training, and it is known for being extremely demanding. At the time of this tragic loss, Captain Brad Geary was the commanding officer of the naval special warfare basic training command, which meant he was directly in charge of the training program where this happened. This event, you know, naturally brought a lot of attention and scrutiny to the training methods and the people overseeing them. The death of a candidate during or immediately after such intense training is, of course, a very serious matter that calls for a close examination of everything involved.

The situation led to a lot of questions about what went on and who was responsible. Kyle Mullen was found unresponsive just hours after Hell Week had finished. This meant that the eyes of the public and military officials turned to those in leadership positions, including Captain Brad Geary. The Navy, in its effort to understand what happened, began looking into the circumstances surrounding the young man's passing. It was a moment that, you know, really highlighted the very high stakes involved in training people for such an elite and physically challenging profession. The outcome of this event had, quite understandably, a profound effect on many people, including Kyle Mullen's family, who may even be asked to share their perspective at future hearings.

So, the core of the issue for Captain Brad Geary was his role as the person in charge when this tragedy occurred. His position meant he was seen as responsible for the overall well-being and safety of the candidates going through the program. This is, you know, a very heavy burden for anyone to carry, especially when something so heartbreaking happens. The fact that he was the commander of the Navy SEAL training program at that very time meant he was right at the center of the subsequent discussions and investigations, which, you know, is a very tough place to be for anyone, let alone someone with such a long history of service.

How Did Captain Brad Geary Address the Concerns?

In the wake of Kyle Mullen's death, Captain Brad Geary spoke out about the situation. He called the passing of the SEAL candidate in 2022 a truly sad event, acknowledging the deep sorrow associated with it. However, he also stood by himself and the training program itself. He felt it was important to defend the very tough nature of Navy SEAL training, saying that its intensity is truly needed. He believes that the rigorous demands are, you know, a necessary part of preparing individuals for the very unique and dangerous work that SEALs do. This stance meant he was weathering a period of significant discussion and public attention, which can be a very challenging thing for anyone to go through.

Captain Geary also made an appearance on the Shawn Ryan podcast, a place where he could share his thoughts more openly. During this discussion, he put forth the idea that the Navy, in its search for someone to hold accountable, was perhaps not giving enough attention to certain pieces of information. He suggested that some evidence was being overlooked, which, you know, is a pretty strong statement to make. He was, in a way, trying to explain his side of the story and provide a different perspective on the events that had unfolded. This public sharing of his views showed that he was not simply going to remain silent but would actively participate in the discussion surrounding the incident and his role in it.

His willingness to speak publicly and defend the training program, even while facing such intense scrutiny, shows a person who, you know, truly believes in the methods used. He was, apparently, of the view that the training, despite its extreme difficulty, is what makes SEALs capable of their missions. He emphasized its necessity, even as he was dealing with a great deal of public attention and questioning. It's a situation where a long-standing military leader is explaining why a system he helped oversee is structured the way it is, even when a tragic outcome occurs.

What Was the Process of Looking into Captain Brad Geary and the Events?

After the sad event, there was an investigation, and this particular inquiry was quite rare because it came from outside the usual Navy channels. This outside look into what happened found that Captain Brad Geary, along with some other people in leadership at the command, had been careless in their duties related to being in charge. It also pointed out that the medical care provided was, you know, not what it should have been. This kind of finding from an independent investigation is very significant, as it suggests that there were definite issues with how things were being managed at the time. It really put a spotlight on the responsibilities of those in leadership positions and the direct impact their actions can have.

The report from this investigation was something Captain Brad Geary himself addressed. He defended his actions and, in fact, spoke very strongly against the report that looked into the SEAL training course. He was, in a way, pushing back on the findings that suggested negligence on his part and that of others. This shows that there was a difference of opinion between the findings of the investigation and Captain Geary's own view of the situation. It’s a pretty clear sign that he felt the report did not fully capture the reality of what happened or his responsibilities within it. So, there was, you know, a bit of a disagreement about the conclusions reached.

The fact that an external group was brought in to look at the situation indicates the seriousness with which the Navy viewed the incident. When an organization brings in outside people to examine something, it often means they want a fresh perspective or that the matter is so important it requires a truly impartial assessment. The findings of this outside group directly implicated Captain Geary and others, saying they were not as careful as they should have been in their leadership duties. This is, you know, a very serious charge for someone in a position of command, especially in a military setting where discipline and responsibility are paramount.

What Were the Official Steps Taken for Captain Brad Geary?

Following the investigation, Captain Brad Geary was set to face a board of inquiry, which is a formal military proceeding. This particular hearing was scheduled for November 11, and it was directly connected to the death of Kyle Mullen after Hell Week in February 2022. These boards are serious affairs where military officers must explain their actions and demonstrate why they should be allowed to continue serving in the Navy. It's a process that, you know, can have very significant outcomes for a person's military time. At one point, there was even talk that Kyle Mullen's mother, Regina Mullen, might be asked to give her side of the story at these hearings, though their exact timing was not set at that moment.

Interestingly, Rick Cheeseman, a figure involved in these matters, decided to put a stop to the boards of inquiry for Captain Brad Geary and also for Commander Erik Ramey, who was the top doctor at the school at the time of the incident. This decision meant that, for a period, these formal proceedings were halted. However, later on, it was confirmed that the Navy had, in fact, dropped its cases against Commander Erik Ramey. This was a notable development, as both officers had previously been told they needed to appear before these boards of inquiry. The two officers who had been accused of not doing their duty were Captain Bradley Geary, who was in charge of Mullen's SEAL training, and Dr. Erik Ramey, who led the medical department involved.

There were also other official actions taken. Three officers from the Naval Special Warfare Command were going to face disciplinary hearings, known as admiral's mast, because of the death of the SEAL trainee. Officials confirmed these hearings were happening. In a different but related move, a group of 31 lawmakers sent a letter asking the Secretary of Defense, Austin, to cancel the Navy's planned board of inquiry for Captain Brad Geary. They were, you know, requesting that this formal proceeding, which concerned his oversight of the SEAL training course where Kyle Mullen passed away, be stopped. So, there was a fair bit of back and forth, and different official avenues were being explored regarding Captain Brad Geary's situation. Richard Cheeseman, for his part, reviewed the cases against both Captain Bradley Geary, who was the commander of the basic training command when Mullen died, and Commander Erik Ramey, who was the senior medical officer for the training.

Where Do Things Stand for Captain Brad Geary Now?

Before these difficult events, Captain Brad Geary was, apparently, on a path that could have led him to become an admiral, which is a very high rank in the Navy. This suggests that his career was seen as highly promising and that he was considered a rising star within the service. The incident involving Kyle Mullen's death, however, significantly altered that trajectory. It brought about a period of intense review and formal proceedings that would, you know, naturally affect anyone's career progression, especially one as distinguished as his. The fact that he was on such a path underscores the gravity of the challenges he has faced.

As things stand, the Navy has, you know, made some decisions regarding the officers involved. While the cases against Commander Erik Ramey were dropped, the situation for Captain Brad Geary has been a bit more complex. He was, as we know, accused of not doing his duty, and his case has seen various developments, including the initial stopping of his board of inquiry and then the request from lawmakers to cancel it. The information suggests that his path has been quite different from Commander Ramey's in terms of the official actions taken. So, the direct consequences for him have, in some respects, been distinct and ongoing, making his present situation somewhat unique compared to others involved.

The information available indicates that Captain Brad Geary has been in a position where he needed to show cause to a Navy board as to why he should be allowed to remain in the Navy, specifically in connection with the 2022 death of the SEAL candidate. This is a serious process that determines an officer's future in the service. His situation is, you know, a very clear example of how a single tragic event can lead to a long and involved process of accountability and review for those in leadership roles. It's a time of considerable uncertainty for a person who has dedicated so much of their life to military service.

A Period of Adjustment for SEAL Training and Captain Brad Geary

The events surrounding Kyle Mullen's death also led to some bigger changes within the Naval Special Warfare Center. Officials have indicated that the commander of the center, who had been reprimanded in connection with the death of the SEAL candidate, was removed from his job about two months earlier than planned. This shows that the Navy was, you know, looking to make leadership adjustments in response to the incident. Brian Drechsler, for example, is being moved, as Navy officials are looking for new people to lead the Naval Special Warfare Center. This move comes more than a year after Kyle Mullen collapsed and passed away due to acute pneumonia.

These changes reflect a broader effort within the Navy to address the issues that came to light following the tragedy. When leadership is changed in such a prominent way, it often signals a desire for a fresh approach or a renewed focus on certain aspects of the program, like safety and oversight. The decision to bring in new leadership for the center suggests a recognition that adjustments were needed at a higher level to ensure the well-being of candidates going through such demanding training. It’s a clear indication that the Navy is, you know, taking steps to respond to the criticisms and findings that emerged from the investigations.

So, while Captain Brad Geary's personal situation has been a central part of this story, the wider context includes these organizational shifts. The movement of key personnel like Brian Drechsler, and the overall search for new leadership, are all part of the Navy's response to the challenges presented by Kyle Mullen's death. It’s a period of adjustment for the SEAL training program as a whole, with the aim of ensuring that such a tragic event is, you know, never repeated. This means a focus on reviewing and possibly changing the way things are done at the very top of the training command.

Gary Butler

Gary Butler

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