# Timothy Szymanski

Timothy Gerard "Tim" Szymanski (born 1962) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who last served as deputy commander of United States Special Operations Command from October 15, 2018 to December 2021. He is the former commander of United States Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California.

## Early life and education

Szymanski is a native of Wilmington, Delaware. He graduated from the Salesianum School in 1980, where he was a three-year varsity letterman in wrestling and, in 1980, represented the United States in an international AAU Freestyle wrestling tournament in Tokyo, Japan. He then attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School from 1980 to 1981, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1985. He completed a Masters of Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy at Joint Advanced Warfighting School.

## Naval career

After receiving his commission in 1985, Szymanski served in the Surface Warfare community and qualified as a surface warfare officer before transitioning to the SEALs. He volunteered for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) graduating with Class 161 in 1989. Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and completion of six month probationary period, he received the 1130 designator as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia also known as "SEAL Trident".
Szymanski's Naval Special Warfare (NSW) and operational assignments include platoon commander and task unit commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. In 1992, Szymanski volunteered for assignment to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) in Damneck, Virginia, and completed a specialized selection and training course known as Green Team. He served as troop commander, squadron commander and current operations officer with the command until 1997. Szymanski was selected as commanding officer of Special Boat Unit 26 and later returned to NSWDG for a 2nd tour as unit operations officer from 2000 to 2002. As a commander, Szymanski served as commanding officer of SEAL Team 2 from 2002 to 2004. Szymanski's staff assignments include officer community manager for NSW and enlisted community manager for SEALs, Navy Divers, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, and special warfare combatant craft crewmen (SWCC). He served on the Joint Staff as the J3 deputy directorate for Special Operations as the Global War on Terror branch chief and as chief staff officer of Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell.
Szymanski commanded a O6-level Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, served as deputy unit commander of Naval Special Warfare Development Group from 2007 to 2008 and commanded Naval Special Warfare Group TWO from 2009 to 2011. He served as deputy commanding general sustainment to Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan/NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan.
On 3 August 2016, Szymanski succeeded Rear Admiral Brian L. Losey as commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. His prior assignment was the assistant to the commander of Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On 19 July 2018, Szymanski was nominated for promotion to vice admiral, but his next assignment was not disclosed at the time.
He retired from active duty in December 2021.

## Awards and decorations

Szymanski has received multiple awards and recognitions:
| Badge | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia |
| 1st Row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ three bronze oak leaf clusters | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ three bronze oak leaf clusters | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ three bronze oak leaf clusters |
| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit Medal w/ 2 gold award stars | Legion of Merit Medal w/ 2 gold award stars | Bronze Star w/ 2 award stars | Bronze Star w/ 2 award stars | Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 oak leaf cluster | Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 oak leaf cluster |
| 3rd Row | Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star | Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal |
| 4th Row | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 bronze service star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 bronze service star | Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ oak leaf cluster | Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ oak leaf cluster |
| 5th Row | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | Navy E Ribbon w/ 2 Battle "E" devices | Navy E Ribbon w/ 2 Battle "E" devices |
| 6th Row | Navy Expeditionary Medal | Navy Expeditionary Medal | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| 7th Row | Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 2 campaign stars | Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 2 campaign stars | Iraq Campaign Medal | Iraq Campaign Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| 8th Row | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 7 service stars | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 7 service stars | Overseas Service Ribbon | Overseas Service Ribbon |
| 9th row | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | Rifle Marksmanship Medal | Rifle Marksmanship Medal | Pistol Marksmanship Medal | Pistol Marksmanship Medal |
| Badge | Surface Warfare Officer Insignia | Surface Warfare Officer Insignia | Surface Warfare Officer Insignia | Surface Warfare Officer Insignia | Surface Warfare Officer Insignia | Surface Warfare Officer Insignia |
| Badge | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia |
| Badge | Command at Sea insignia | Command at Sea insignia | Command at Sea insignia | Command at Sea insignia | Command at Sea insignia | Command at Sea insignia |
| Badge | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
In 2015, Szymanski was inducted into Salesianum School's hall of fame.

## Controversies

Szymanski actively thwarted efforts to award the Medal of Honor to U.S. Air Force combat controller, Master Sergeant John A. Chapman. It is established Admiral Szymanski undertook his course of action to protect the reputation of his SEAL community.