SOCSOUTH Commander Promoted to Two-Star Admiral

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Mark A. Schafer, Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command South, was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in a ceremony held June 13th.

This promotion signifies his advancement to a Two-Star Admiral, a rank signified by the addition of a second star to his service uniform. The rank of Rear Admiral is a high-ranking flag officer position within the U.S. Navy. Given the limited number of active-duty flag officer positions available, selection for promotion is a highly competitive and rigorous process, reflecting Schafer's distinguished service and contributions to the Navy.

In his remarks at the promotion ceremony, Schafer spoke of the enduring importance of the oath of office and the U.S. Constitution, linking these principles to his commitment to service before the oath was administered by a U.S. Navy SEAL Senior Chief Petty Officer, a testament to the close bonds within the special operations community. A particularly touching moment came when Rear Admiral Schafer recognized his wife, Anne, calling her his "anchor and inspiration" throughout his 31 years of service.

A native of New Hartford, New York, Schafer graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 and was commissioned into the Navy. He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2009 with a Master of Business

Administration. As a naval special warfare officer, he has led Navy SEALs and joint special operations teams globally.

Schafer's first flag officer assignment was as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. Before his current assignment, he served as commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force Central operating in the Middle East.

Under Schafer's leadership since June 2024, SOCSOUTH has prioritized  strengthening partnerships and enhancing regional defense with countries such as Argentina, Barbados, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago and more. The recent SOUTHERN STAR 2025 in Chile exemplifies this approach as a full-scale special operations exercise with participants from six nations and observers from an additional 10.

U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), headquartered at

Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida, is a sub-unified command of U.S.  Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). SOCSOUTH is responsible for planning and executing special operations throughout Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Working with partner nations within the USSOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility – encompassing 31 countries and 12 dependencies and areas of special sovereignty, home to over 522 million people – SOCSOUTH conducts operations to achieve U.S. national security objectives, respond to crises,

enhance warfighter readiness, and promote regional stability through a  posture of peace through strength. SOCSOUTH personnel, embodying the warrior ethos, maintain the highest levels of lethality and professionalism to  ensure mission success.