Howe promoted to special ops commander at Camp Smith

Rear Adm. Philip G. Howe has been selected as the new commander of the Special Operations Command at Camp Smith.

Howe is currently serving as assistant commander in charge of operations at Joint Special Operations Command, at Fort Bragg, N.C. 

Howe was commissioned in 1984 following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy.

Howe’s operational assignments have included a full range of duties in SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Teams and SEAL Teams. He commanded Naval Special Warfare Unit Three in Bahrain, and Naval Special Warfare Group Three in San Diego. His service overseas includes multiple deployments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf, and participation in Operations Earnest Will, Provide Promise, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

Special Operations Command was subsequently activated on November 1983 at Camp Smith as a subordinate command of the U.S. Pacific Command.

Units under operational control of the Special Operations Command include the 353d Special Operations Group and 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), which are located on Okinawa and Torii Station in Japan; Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-Pacific and a subordinate SEAL platoon which are based at Apra Harbor Naval Station in Guam; and an airborne company in South Korea.

In January 2002, Special Operations Command deployed to the Southern Philippines as Joint Task Force 510, conducting counterterrorist operations with the Philippine Government. The task force returned in September 2002, leaving stay-behind elements to form Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and continued operations with the Philippines