In the closed society of military special operations, where loyalty to the institution and adherence to the ethos of ‘being a quiet professional’ are paramount, few dare to speak out about the system. This is why allegations made by a high-ranking active-duty Navy SEAL Captain, Brad Geary, have sent ripples across the United States Special Operations community and beyond. Appearing on the Shawn Ryan Show, on Monday, August 5th, 2024, Geary advanced serious allegations regarding investigation steering and mishandling within the military justice system regarding the death of SEAL Candidate Kyle Mullen.
Background
On February 4th, 2022, five hours after completing Hell Week at Naval Special Warfare Training Center, Kyle Mullen, an aspiring SEAL candidate and former Yale football player died. The official cause of death was listed as Pneumonia. Conflicting reports, discovery of performance enhancing drugs among Mullen’s belongings, a failure to test for performance enhancing drugs during post-mortem autopsy along with allegations of misrepresentation and scapegoating on the part of command investigating officers and The Judge Advocate General corps have erupted across the Naval Special Warfare Community, US Special Operations Community, and the United States Navy since the incident.
In a rare and unprecedented case of an Active-Duty Naval Officer still exposed to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Naval Proceedings, Captain Brad Geary conducted a nearly 6-hour public interview with Shawn Ryan on The Shawn Ryan Show Podcast alleging a pattern of mishandling, misrepresentation, and steering across multiple investigations since Mullen’s death. The full-length interview dropped to the general public on Monday, August 5th, 2024, and can be found on YouTube and wherever you download your podcasts.
Shawn Ryan is the CEO of Vigilance Elite, a former Navy SEAL and Central Intelligence Agency contractor who has become a widely respected podcast producer and media personality. The Shawn Ryan Show (SRS) has become a top 5 podcast exploring sensitive topics and guests from all walks of life providing a platform to tell stories that matter. SRS, known for long form interview format on sensitive topics features numerous notable guests in and around special operations, government bumbling, and the like. The Shawn Ryan Show is dedicated to preserving history through the unfiltered stories of heroic events and current world issues by honoring the real experiences of the men and women who lived them.
Captain Geary is a widely respected and highly decorated SEAL Officer with multiple combat deployments including service at Naval Special Warfare’s most selective command, SEAL Team 6. Geary was the Commanding Officer of The Naval Special Warfare Training Center at the time of Mullen’s death, which is the command responsible for administering the Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL (BUD/S) course .
The first 3 hours of the podcast interview was wide ranging and covered numerous topics such as:
- Captain Geary’s early life and decisions to go into uniformed service.
- Captain Geary’s experiences during training and operations leading up to the Mullen event.
- Experiences with Navy SEAL Danny Deitz who perished in OPERATION REDWING
- Geary’s recollection of events during the Extortion 17 crash that killed a substantial number of Development Group Squadron teammates, the Task Force 160th crew, and a beloved Military Canine.
- Captain Geary’s very interesting views on risk management, risk assignment, and risk deferral.
The Specifics of the Kyle Mullen Story begins at time hack 3:05:50 of the episode
The Story
As an active-duty Captain, Geary currently faces the prospect of a range of disciplinary and punitive actions to include internal community backlash for breaking ranks with the Special Operations ethos of being “Quiet Professionals.” Critics of the training center both internal and external to the Navy and Naval Special Warfare have questioned the oversight and safety protocols of the SEAL training program, pointing fingers at Captain Geary, his training Cadre, and his senior medical officer. In the interview on the Shawn Ryan Show, Geary addressed this scrutiny head-on. “I’m risking a lot by speaking out, but it’s necessary to address the problems and ensure the truth comes out,” Geary stated. He acknowledged the intense pressure and potential backlash but emphasized his commitment to transparency. “It’s about fulfilling my responsibility and ensuring that the truth is known, even if it means exposing myself to risk,” he explained.
The Day Kyle Mullen Died
Kyle Mullen was born and raised in Manalapan, New Jersey. He was known for his intellect and athletic capabilities and was a standout football player at Manalapan High School, where he excelled as a defensive end. His talent on the field and academics earned him a spot to Yale University, where he continued to shine both academically and athletically. Outside of athletic and academic commitments, Mullen was known for a strong sense of duty and commitment to serving his country, which ultimately led him to pursue a career with the Navy SEALs.
Mullen had endured the final hours of Hell Week. Despite exhaustion and harsh conditions, he had by all accounts shown exceptional grit and commitment. As the week concluded, candidates were released from Hell week and finally allowed rest. Several hours after Hell Week concluded, Mullen’s condition began to deteriorate rapidly. Mullen was allegedly offered medical treatment on several occasions but declined escalation of care and transport to the hospital. As the day progressed, Mullen began to exhibit severe respiratory distress symptoms such as coughing up blood and extreme difficulty breathing. At that point, Naval watch standers assigned to observe the candidates decided to transport Mullen to the hospital via EMS. Mullen was transported to a nearby Emergency Room where his vital signs and physical condition continued to deteriorate despite all efforts by the civilian medical community to stabilize him.
Captain Brad Geary, who commanded the training center at the time, recounted the events during his interview on the Shawn Ryan Show. Geary described the intense environment and respect Mullen had earned from his peers and instructors alike.
The Rigors of Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL Training (BUD/S)
BUD/S is widely regarded one of the most demanding military training programs in the world, designed to weed out all but the most resilient and determined candidates. The training is divided into three phases, each focused on different skills, mental, and physical conditioning.
Hell, Week is a rite of passage and a key component of this training. Hell Week, more than any other event in Naval Special Warfare serves as the ultimate test of a candidate’s mental and physical fortitude. Those who successfully complete Hell Week and the subsequent phases of BUD/S training go on to become part of the elite Navy SEAL teams, ready to undertake some of the Nation’s most challenging and dangerous missions.
According to Navy reports, since 1954, there have been 11 deaths associated with BUD/S. Numbers vary by season and class but historically only 20%-30% of those selected to attend BUD/s training will eventually become U.S. Navy SEALs.
A New Generation of SEAL Candidates
In the interview, Captain Geary spoke about the importance of training and the new generation of BUD/S candidates. He emphasized how the modern social media landscape and other societal changes have influenced candidates. “This generation of War Fighters… with social media and all its impacts, presents unique challenges that we need to address through our training programs,” Geary remarked. He went on to outline how the use of messaging applications like SIGNAL and group chats enabled the current generation of candidates to develop complex strategies to game the system to include evidence of the coordination of purchasing and delivery of performance enhancing controlled substances. Pursuant to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigation, Geary alleges that Kyle Mullen’s phone was interrogated and found to contain text messages coordinating the procurement of performance enhancing drugs which align to the discovery of a significant quantity of controlled substances in Mullen’s belongings postmortem.
Performance-Enhancing Drugs
The investigation uncovered concerns about the use of performance-enhancing drugs among SEAL candidates. The investigation uncovered concerns about the use of performance-enhancing drugs among SEAL candidates. According to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s autopsy report, which was part of the Navy’s investigation, evidence was found of physiological changes to Mullen’s organs, including an enlarged heart that was more than twice the normal size. Medical experts were divided on whether these changes were a result of the rigorous training or potentially linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Congressman LaLota raised concerns that the Navy may have overlooked key evidence suggesting that other factors, including the alleged use of PEDs, may have contributed to Mullen’s death by weakening his body and exacerbating his condition.
The autopsy did not detect PEBs in Mullen’s system however PED detection, unlike more common narcotic drug testing requires special tests that were not conducted during the Autopsy. Mullen’s cause of death was listed as Acute Pneumonia. Several substances commonly used as performance-enhancing drugs, such as Testosterone, Anastrobol, and Sildenafil, were found in Mullen’s belongings during routine end of life preparation of his belongings for return to next of kin.
The problem of performance-enhancing drugs did not appear to be unique to Mullen; further investigations revealed that the use of performance enhancing drugs was a broader issue affecting many in his class and other SEAL candidates. The pressures to meet the extreme physical demands of BUD/S training have led some candidates to resort to these substances. This pervasive issue has prompted the Navy to implement additional testing for performance-enhancing drugs to ensure all candidates adhere to strict standards (Coronado Times) (Task & Purpose). Captain Geary remarked that these specific Naval Directives only appeared after the Mullen incident.
“Staff and medical professionals who reviewed the findings said in the report that several substances commonly used as performance-enhancing drugs were found in Mullen’s belongings. This issue raises significant concerns about the pressures candidates face to perform at the highest levels,” Gear explained on the podcast.
Calls to Action
Captain Geary believes his public discussion should serve as a call to action for Lawmakers and policymakers. Above all else Geary suggests that he cannot in good conscience allow a narrative to propagate that in his view impairs the reputation of his Cadre, his Senior Medical Officer, and his personal reputation while violating the Navy Code of Ethics and Navy SEAL Ethos. Geary urges taxpayers to demand accountability and transparency by activating congressional representatives to seek accountability and truth from the Navy. Geary goes on to highlight the critical role that public oversight plays in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of military training programs. Captain Geary’s legal team, all experienced former Military JAGs, who appear on the podcast where the Mullen discussion picked up, suggest that there is evidence of gross malpractice and investigative steering on the part of assigned investigating officers and members of the Judge Advocate General Corps across a variety of separate investigations.
“Taxpayers have a right to demand accountability and transparency in how their money is being used, especially in high-stakes training programs like those for Navy SEALs. I urge every taxpayer to contact their congressional representatives and push for a thorough review and necessary reforms to ensure the safety and effectiveness of our training programs,” Geary explained.
Implemented Reforms and Future Recommendations
Following Mullen’s death, reforms were implemented to improve safety and oversight of SEAL training. These include advanced cardiology screening for SEAL candidates, pneumonia prevention measures, and enhanced medical scrutiny during and after Hell Week. The Navy is now conducting expanded testing for performance-enhancing drugs.
Rear Adm. Keith Davids, head of Naval Special Warfare Command, stated, “Our effectiveness as the Navy’s maritime special operations force necessitates demanding, high-risk training. While rigorous and intensely demanding, our training must be conducted with an unwavering commitment to safety and methodical precision.”
Geary’s call to action for policymakers is clear. Captain Geary alleges there is a need for comprehensive reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in line with the Ethical standards of the Uniformed services. Geary’s insights and willingness to sacrifice what remains of his career, and risk the wrath of repercussions, while still active duty, is largely unprecedented with the exception of the recent Eddie Gallagher case.
For SOFX, Sam Havelock.
Sam Havelock is a former Navy SEAL and U.S. Marine who served on Active Duty for over two decades. Havelock is the founder and publisher of The SOFX Report. The SOFX Report (TSR) informs over 30,000 decision makers about special operations, global conflict, and the impact of technology on the battlefield. As a completely independent publication with no outside investors and a less than 1% annual unsubscribe rate, TSR offers high quality, apolitical reporting. The type of reporting that Main-Stream Media abandoned. The SOFX Report is complimentary and can be subscribed to at the SOFX website. As hardline privacy advocates, the SOFX team does not rent, sell, or share subscriber contact data with anyone.
