Scott Howell

U.S. Air Force (Retired), former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command

Unity of purpose, resilience, and a shared commitment to mission is a common trait among the diverse members of special operations teams. These same values are also wide-spread among the citizens of our great republic — now is the time to unify in our shared mission to serve as committed American citizens.

Lieutenant General Scott Howell retired from the United States Air Force in August 2021 after a 34-year career during which he held a variety of positions of leadership, including most recently as commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from July 2018 to June 2021.

In his role at JSOC, Lt Gen. Howell oversaw military operations across multiple theaters, and was responsible for the readiness and mission execution of highly-specialized military forces of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Before JSOC he served as the Vice Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command with a focus on organizing, training, and equipping more than 70,000 U.S. Special Operations personnel operating in more than 85 countries. In this role he led acquisition, budgeting, programming, and fiscal processes for USSOCOM with the military services, Joint Staff, and Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Before that, Lt Gen Howell commanded all Coalition special operations forces in Afghanistan as Commanding General, NATO Special Operations Component Command / U. S. Special Operations Joint Task Force -Afghanistan.Lt. Gen. Howell has commanded a squadron, group, joint special operations air component, special operations wing, and special operations joint task force. His senior staff positions include service in the HQ Air Force Staff, Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and as the Deputy Director of Special Operations at the Joint Staff.Howell is a 1987 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and earned Master’s Degrees from the Air Command & Staff College and the National War College.

He is a career helicopter pilot with assignments in rescue and special operations, and has deployed extensively.