Brad Geary, a name synonymous with the demanding world of Navy SEAL training, found himself at the center of a storm of controversy following the tragic death of SEAL candidate Kyle Mullen. This tragedy ignited investigations, accusations, and conflicting accounts. Join us as we explore Brad Geary’s career, the investigations he faced, and the aftermath of this tragedy that shook the Navy SEAL community.
See Geary's interview on the Shawn Ryan Show here.
Table of Contents:
- From Leading the Elite to Facing Scrutiny: Brad Geary’s Career
- Navigating Tragedy: The Death of Kyle Mullen
- Geary’s Response: Refusing the Mast
- Public Scrutiny and Conflicting Perspectives
- The Case Against Brad Geary
- Geary's Defense and Future
- FAQs About Brad Geary
- Conclusion
From Leading the Elite to Facing Scrutiny: Brad Geary’s Career
Captain Brad Geary boasts an impressive military career marked by leadership and operational expertise in Naval Special Warfare. Public records indicate Captain Geary graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2000 and earned his SEAL trident with Class 234.
His service included deployments to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America, undertaking vital roles in elite units such as SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO, SEAL Team FOUR, and Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron THREE.
Geary’s ascent led him to command SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE before overseeing SEAL training at the Basic Training Command in Coronado, California. However, the 2022 death of candidate Kyle Mullen during this period intertwined Geary’s name with tragedy, drawing criticism toward the SEAL training program.
Navigating Tragedy: The Death of Kyle Mullen
In 2022, Kyle Mullen, a promising SEAL candidate, tragically died from acute pneumonia following Hell Week. Multiple autopsies determined the pneumonia was left untreated. This event sparked a series of investigations, including a 296-page report from the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) that expressed concern over Mullen's inadequate medical care.
Witness accounts alleged that despite exhibiting signs of distress, Mullen didn’t receive timely medical treatment. Reports suggest the medical staff left prematurely and didn’t return, even after receiving calls from trainees worried about Mullen’s deteriorating health.
This tragedy brought forth charges of dereliction of duty against two officers, including Brad Geary. Geary, however, refuted these claims, stating his team followed protocol. He emphasized in an interview that the report found no medical malpractice. Geary pointed to Mullen’s previously unknown enlarged heart, a condition not easily detectable without extensive medical screening.
Geary’s Response: Refusing the Mast
The Navy initially intended to address the allegations against Geary and two other officers with an admiral’s mast, a form of non-judicial punishment within the military. Geary, represented by his lawyer, Jason Wareham, declined the mast.
Wareham argued that a biased verdict was inevitable, alleging unfair treatment and manipulation of evidence. Geary’s refusal prompted the Navy to either drop the charges or pursue a court martial. Instead, they opted for a Board of Inquiry, a quasi-criminal procedure.
Wareham described this as precarious legal ground, potentially carrying lifelong ramifications. This situation highlights the complexities of accountability within the military, especially when incidents occur in high-pressure environments such as basic training.
Public Scrutiny and Conflicting Perspectives
Mullen’s death ignited debates and investigations, revealing potential cracks in the SEAL training program’s oversight, particularly its healthcare provisions. Many, including Kyle’s mother, Regina, questioned the program’s practices and alleged negligence. However, others defended its intensity as necessary.
Dr. Mark Hardman, a former military medical officer, publicly criticized Geary’s statements on a podcast, feeling they minimized the medical failings and shifted blame to Mullen’s alleged performance-enhancing drug use. Geary maintained the demanding curriculum operated within reasonable parameters.
This public exchange sparked a broader discussion on how the Navy should navigate tragedy. Should they prioritize transparency, even when exposing internal shortcomings, or maintain a guarded approach to protect operational security? This situation presents a dilemma with no easy answers, reflected in the public’s reaction.
Geary's Defense and Future
Brad Geary publicly rejected the accusations, offering a different perspective and using media platforms like “Good Morning America” and Fox News to defend himself. He maintained that attributing Mullen’s death solely to the training program was an oversimplification, highlighting Mullen’s death and the inherent risks associated with high-risk training for aspiring service members.
Geary defended the training curriculum, emphasizing his efforts to balance high standards with trainee well-being. By engaging in public discourse, he sought to reclaim the narrative. His decision to contest the mast proceedings, potentially opting for a court-martial, grants him a broader legal defense platform.
The outcome of Geary’s case remains uncertain. Whether he’s exonerated or the case unveils further complexities within SEAL training, it’s sure to be a closely watched story. The case questions individual accountability and the training programs upon which America’s most elite forces rely, especially those within the challenging environment of naval special warfare.
Conclusion
The story of Brad Geary highlights the immense challenges and complexities within elite BUD/S military training. This tragedy raised questions of accountability, triggered legal proceedings, and brought to light alleged systematic flaws within the demanding realm of special operations. Regardless of your perspective, the incident undeniably impacted the Mullen family and Brad Geary. In the blink of an eye, Geary’s status transitioned from an esteemed leader to an accused officer.
Also, did Performance Enhanced Drugs (PEDS) play a role in Mullen's death? If possible, why did the Navy restrict the medical examiners' office to determine if PEDS were accountable for his death? Primarily after illegal PEDS were found in Mullen's car within hours of his death? Also, since Mullen's autopsy revealed an enlarged heart, did the COVID-19 vaccine have a role?
Geary's attorneys say the Secretary Of The Navy—a Biden appointee—is involved. If so, is politics or a higher office influencing Geary's case?
Congressmen LaLota, Luttrell, and Mills, who all have served in the military, asked six pages worth of provocative questions about the Navy's investigation, the service’s public statements on the case, and the possible undue influence of Regina Mullen.
The Republicans have not received any response from the Navy despite setting a July 14 deadline for answers.
When asked whether a response was coming, a service spokeswoman said the Navy “values its relationship with Congress and takes very seriously its responsibility to answer all congressional inquiries.”
Watch the Shawn Ryan Show here.
Incredible information. Leadership is lacking in all aspects of life, business, experience and careers. Some have abilities and goals and some will never learn to lead.
His life is an example of the set by men of incredible gifts of sacrifice, goals and skill.
Thank you for your sincerity.
Steve