Michael K. Nagata
Michael K. Nagata is a U.S. Army lieutenant general.[1]
Michael K. Nagata | |
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| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1982–present |
| Rank |  |
| Commands held | Intelligence Support Activity SOCCENT |
| Battles/wars | Operation Gothic Serpent Battle of Mogadishu Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| Relations | Widower with only one son |
Early career
He was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1982 and served as an infantry platoon leader with the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Division in South Korea. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1984 and commanded detachment of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group where he gained a "reputation for coolness under pressure, and for a wry sense of humor."[2]
In the decision that shaped his career, Nagata volunteered and was selected for the Intelligence Support Activity in 1990, nicknamed "The Activity", an ultra secret unit conducting signal and human intelligence gathering for special mission units of the Joint Special Operations Command. Nagata served as troop commander till 1994 and again as operations officer from 1997 to 1999. He would later serve as squadron commander from 2000-2002 and later unit commander as a Colonel from 2005 to 2008.[2]
In 1993 while deployed on his first tour with The Activity in Somalia, Nagata was "the CIA chief of station’s right-hand man" according to Jerry Boykin (former commander of Delta Force) in Somalia, "functioning as the liaison between the chief of station in Mogadishu and Task Force Ranger, the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) task force given the mission to hunt down the warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid."[2]
Special Operations Command
From June 2013 to October 2015 Nagata commanded the Special Operations Command Central.[3][4] Nagata was in charge of an Obama administration program to "train and equip Syrian rebels," but the program was deemed a "failure," and Nagata stepped down as commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East. The program "ultimately produced only a few dozen fighters," rather than the 15,000 fighters hoped for. [5]
Post Army Career
On January 6, 2020, CACI International Inc. announced that it had "named Lt. Gen. Michael Nagata, U.S. Army (Ret.), as Corporate Strategic Advisor and Senior Vice President to enhance the positioning of CACI’s national security related expertise and technology offerings."[6]
Awards and decorations
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Personal life
Nagata and his wife Barbara have five children. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia to Frances and William Nagata, both from Honolulu, Hawaii. His father is a retired military intelligence colonel and was stationed in Virginia at the time of Michael's birth.[7] [8]
References
- "NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED (NON-CIVILIAN) — PN1181". United States Senate. July 13, 2016.
- "Meet the Shadow Warrior Leading the Fight Against the Islamic State". Foreign Policy. May 1, 2015.
- Special Operations Command Central welcomes new commander
- Eric Schmitt In Battle to Defang ISIS, U.S. Targets Its Psychology nytimes.com DEC. 28, 2014
- Eric Schmitt New Role for General After Failure of Syria Rebel Plan nytimes.com OCT. 19, 2015
- CACI Appoints Lt. Gen. Michael Nagata (Ret.) as Corporate Strategic Advisor bloomberg.com JAN. 6, 2020
- Wade Ishimoto: Michael K. Nagata Promoted to Major General - Japanese American Veterans Association October 2012, Volume 62, Issue 9 via Nisei Veterans Committee Newsletter
- Nagata tapped to lead U.S. Central Command special ops - Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 2013-01-22
External links
- SEÁN D. NAYLOR: Meet the Shadow Warrior Leading the Fight Against the Islamic State - Foreign Policy, 2015-05-01
