Navy SEALs: New Roles for New Conflicts
A Presentation and Discussion With
Captain Matthew Rosenbloom (SEAL)
Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group One
Wednesday Aug 22nd 9 am at The Sands Regency Casino
“Coming out of Afghanistan, whatever the next conflict is, people will remember that SEALs and Special Forces played an important role”, said Pullar. “All these things have changed. Who knows what we’ll do or when we’ll do it? But we’ve learned from all that, and whatever comes, it will not be the kinds of things we did in Desert Storm.” (quote from Capt. Walter S. Pullar III, SEAL and Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group excerpted from a Washington Post article by Peter Baker, 21 Feb 2003)
Fifteen years later it goes without saying that Special Forces and especially the Navy SEALS have dramatically changed the way the United States military confronts new and emerging threats. With origins dating back to the D-Day invasion, the predecessor group to the Navy SEALs were among the first forces to land on the beaches of Normandy clearing a path for allied troops with demolition explosives and taking heavy casualties. Evolving into a special elite fighting force in Vietnam, known for their ability to operate in all environments, sea, land, and air, Navy SEALs adapted their mission to meet the demands of an insurgent and well-fortified threat environment. Fast forward to 2009 and you find Navy SEALs rescuing Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. And then to 2011, with their daring raid on a compound in Pakistan that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.
Beyond the myth and lore, who are the Navy SEALs really, and what is their role in fighting adversaries and protecting the United States? The National Security Forum is honored to have CAPT Matthew Rosenbloom, Navy SEAL and Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group One, join us for a discussion of Special Operations in modern conflict. He will review the history and organization of the Navy SEALs, explain how their role and operations have expanded since 9/11, and provide insight into how Special Operations are transforming to meet future threats.
As emerging threats, transnational terrorist organizations, and asymmetric warfare increasingly dominate conflicts around the globe, Special Operations and the Navy SEALs will continue to transform U.S. military operations and execute pivotal roles in U.S. national security.
“You’ve only got three choices in life: Give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got.”
(Navy SEAL saying)
Captain Matthew Rosenbloom (SEAL), has completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan throughout his career and is currently the Naval Special Warfare Group ONE Commodore, overseeing multiple SEAL Teams, detachments, and units. He has served as Commanding Officer of SEAL Team SEVEN and Naval Special Warfare Unit THREE, as well as commanded Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula and Joint Special Operations Task Force – Iraq. He is a graduate of the USMC Command and Staff College, receiving a Masters of Military Science. His military honors include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals. Captain Rosenbloom graduated from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and was commissioned thru NROTC as an Ensign in the United States Navy in 1991. He is married to Rachael Elizabeth Chism of Reno, Nevada, and is father to daughter, Carly, and son, Griffin.