Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, the commander involved in the controversial September 2 strikes on a suspected drug-running boat in the Caribbean, is set to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill. This briefing is part of a bipartisan inquiry into the incident, which resulted in the deaths of two survivors from an initial strike. A source familiar with the situation indicated that the survivors were later killed in a second strike because they were believed to be still engaged in combat, as they were in communication with nearby vessels and attempting to recover cargo from the boat.

The White House and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have stated that the decision to order the second strike was made by Bradley. Hegseth, who oversaw the first attack, mentioned that he did not witness any survivors or subsequent strikes after leaving for meetings. He expressed support for Bradley's actions, stating, "Admiral Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat. We have his back."

At the time of the strikes, Bradley was a three-star admiral in charge of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees sensitive missions conducted by elite units such as SEAL Team Six and Delta Force. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991, where he studied physics and was a varsity gymnast. His military career includes being one of the first to deploy to Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks.

Bradley, originally from Eldorado, Texas, holds a Master's Degree in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He has been recognized for his research, earning a provisional patent in 2006. Colleagues have praised him as one of the military's top leaders. Retired Navy Commander Eric Oelerich, a former SEAL and current contributor, described Bradley as an adaptive leader and "one of the most intelligent officers" in the military. Oelerich stated, "Bradley is an example of the very best of what is in the U.S. military."

Retired Brig. Gen. Shawn Harris, who has worked with Bradley and is now a Democratic congressional candidate in Georgia, also commended him as "an outstanding leader."

Bradley made a rare public appearance in July during a Senate confirmation hearing for his nomination as the four-star commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, a position he assumed in October. During his confirmation, he emphasized the importance of preventing civilian harm and adhering to the laws of war. He told Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., "It is critical to our success and competition to represent our values. I commit to keeping that as a focus for our command, if confirmed."