CORONADO, Calif. – Navy Vice Adm. Collin Green celebrated 38 years of military service, including a tour as a SEAL Team commander in Iraq, during a retirement ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado on May 3.
Green, a former Naval Special Warfare (NSW) commander, served as Deputy Commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for his final assignment.
A 1986 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Class 149 in 1988, Green embarked on a career defined by pivotal roles and critical missions that spanned the globe, including operations in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Extensive command tours
His command tours include SEAL Team 3, where he deployed as commander of Naval Special Warfare Task Group – Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Naval Special Warfare Unit 3; Naval Special Warfare Group 1, U.S. Special Operations Command South, and commander, Naval Special Warfare Command.
Green said he views leadership as a lifetime journey of learning.
“I’m so grateful for the great men and women I served with the last 38 years. In particular, those who raised their right hand after 9/11,” Green said. “There’s a tendency to think and lament that prior generations were greater, more committed, and service oriented. I would beg to differ. It’s about service and stepping into the arena despite unknown dangers, wanting to be part of something bigger than self and defending the ideals of this great country and sometimes paying the ultimate sacrifice.”
“Please remember to honor and talk about men like Mike Monsoor, Marc Lee, Ryan Job and Chris Kyle – who I had the honor of serving with. Remember all of the fallen,” Green said. “A nation that forgets its fallen will be itself forgotten.”
Green continued by expressing gratitude for the families of the men and women he served with.
“Vice Adm. Green is a trusted friend and esteemed mentor to many. I consider myself to be lucky to be part of that group,” Rear Adm. Keith Davids said. “He commanded SEAL Team 3 and NSW Group 1 during the highest period of combat across the global war on terrorism. To say he led the community as NSW commander during challenging times would be an understatement.”
Leadership in combat
One of Green’s mentors, retired Vice. Adm. Sean Pybus, the chairman of both the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Special Operations Memorial Foundation, discussed how Green measured up to the benchmark by which SEAL officers are judged – leadership in combat.
“As commanding officer of SEAL Team 3 in 2006, Collin captained his men through killed-in-action, wounded-in action, and hours-long gunfights in western Iraq,” Pybus said. “All to secure pieces of urban and rural landscape, which at the time were the most dangerous places on earth.”
Bill King, a retired force master chief petty officer, who served as Green’s senior enlisted advisor as NSW commander, talked about a chaotic and violent 2006 deployment– and his experience serving as Green’s force master chief.
“SEAL Team 3 suffered 11 wounded and two killed in action”
“Everybody wants to be the commanding officer when the sailing is smooth and they don’t have to make hard decisions,” King said. “It seems like hard decisions were all we had. Having to navigate these decisions in a way that would protect the people involved, and the process was hard to do. Collin went to the ends of the earth to be fair.”
After thanking his family, friends, mentors, and teammates, Green reflected on the twilight of his career – one where he was motivated, inspired, challenged, and excited to go to work because the people to the right, left, and above him had passion and commitment.
“I had that feeling my whole career,” Green said. “Thanks to working with the great men and women of this country, frankly, I didn’t want it to end. They inspired me to be a better teammate, leader, and more importantly – a better person. I was privileged to have a seat at the table in the Navy and Naval Special Warfare.”
