Andrew F. Knaggs
Andrew F. Knaggs (born August 30, 1974) is a Green Beret, attorney, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism.[1] He is currently a candidate for United States Congress for Virginia's 7th District as a Republican.[2]
Early Life and Education
A first-generation American, Knaggs was born in New York to a Haitian father and a Barbadian mother, both of whom became naturalized citizens.[3]
Following high school, Knaggs attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.[4]
After leaving the Army in 2005, Knaggs attended William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia and graduated in 2008 with a Juris Doctor degree. While in law school, Knaggs was elected president of the William & Mary chapter of the Federalist Society.[5] He also served as a General Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Volume 30, Number 1, 2006.[6]
Military Career
Upon graduating from West Point in 1996, Knaggs was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and joined the 11th Engineer Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division, headquartered at Fort Stewart, Georgia. In 1998, as a combat engineer platoon leader in the 3rd ID, Knaggs deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Thunder.[7]
Knaggs later became a Special Forces officer and joined the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.[8] There, he commanded an Operational Detachment-A specializing in High-Altitude Low-Opening (HALO) airborne operations, sensitive site exploitation, and time-sensitive targeting.[9]
As a Green Beret in the 5th Group, Knaggs deployed for combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom I in 2003 and Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004. While commanding his Special Forces team during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, Knaggs conducted joint special operations in western Iraq, collaborating with multiple interagency and indigenous elements. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for combat actions that directly contributed to the coalition's success.[10]
Legal Career
After graduating from law school in 2008, Knaggs was hired as a legal associate in a regional law firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.[11] In 2013, he founded Knaggs Law PLLC.[12]
Department of Defense
In 2009, the DoD's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) hired Knaggs as a federal civilian employee to be the Operations Support Branch Chief. He later was promoted to GS-15 and served as the Chief of Research & Engineering Division.[13] In this role, besides managing JIEDDO's technology research and development, Knaggs led research into the DoD's potential use of venture capital for developing mission-oriented capabilities.[14]
In 2013, following his time at JIEDDO, Knaggs joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Deputy Director for Special Operations & Irregular Warfare.[1] Knaggs left the federal civil service in 2014.
In 2017, the Trump Administration appointed Knaggs to the Senior Executive Service and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism.[15] He was sworn in on September 5, 2017. In this role, Knaggs led the Department's policies, plans, authorities, and resources related to special operations and irregular warfare, with emphasis on counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, information operations, and sensitive special operations.[1]
Knaggs has spoken widely on security topics, including DoD's approach to irregular warfare,[16] countering violent extremism in Southeast Asia,[17] comprehensive security responses to terrorism,[18] strategic developments in information operations,[19] and countering militarized terrorism.[20]
He was the keynote speaker at Fredericksburg, Virginia's Veterans Day Ceremony in both 2017 and 2018. He stated, “The last 17 years of conflict, since 9/11, have taken a great toll on our armed forces and individual service members…and yet all of you have stood the test of time and risen to the challenges put before you. All of us in leadership at the Department of Defense are immensely proud of all you do.”[21]
Knaggs resigned from the Trump Administration on September 20, 2019.
2020 Congressional Campaign
On October 1, 2019, Knaggs announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress against incumbent Abigail Spanberger to represent Virginia's 7th district.[22] Knaggs describes himself as a lifelong conservative; he supports stronger border security and opposes stricter gun-control laws.[22]
In an interview, Knaggs stated, “I am running for office because I believe the Democrats’ vision for this country is wrong,” and, “I think it’s not aligned with principles our nation was founded on. Congresswoman Spanberger’s principles are not aligned with the voters of the 7th District.”[22]
Personal Life
Knaggs married his wife, Sara, in 1998. They have two children. They have lived in Virginia since 2005 and built a home in Montpelier, Hanover County, Virginia in 2008. Knaggs served as the Parliamentarian on the Hanover County Republican Executive Committee.[23] Knaggs is a life member of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
He is scheduled to serve as an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School in Spring 2020.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew Knaggs". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ Portnoy, Jenna. "Former Trump defense official to seek GOP nod to challenge Va.'s Spanberger". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "The Advocate (Vol. 3, Issue 10)". 2006. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Federalist Society Assistant Editors". Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. 30: 1. 2006–2007.
- ↑ "Operation Desert Thunder / Desert Viper". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "5th SFG (A) Home Page". www.soc.mil. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Andrew F. Knaggs > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Venture Capital and Strategic Investment for Developing Government Mission Capabilities" (PDF). National Defense Research Institute. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Senior Executive Service Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Naval War College "Access and Influence" Symposium focuses on Irregular Warfare". usnwc.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "In Defense of the Rules-Based International Order" (PDF). Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Editor, APCSS (2018-08-08). "Counter-terrorism course prepares 108 Fellows to face regional challenges". Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ Cox, Matthew (2019-02-06). "DoD Officials: Irregular Warfare, Information Ops Key to Winning Next War". Military.com. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "THE 2018 SOUTHEAST ASIA COUNTER-TERRORISM SYMPOSIUM: A COLLECTIVE APPROACH" (PDF). S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Veterans Day events in the Fredericksburg area". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Portnoy, Jenna. "Former Trump defense official to seek GOP nod to challenge Va.'s Spanberger". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
- ↑ "Hanover County Republican Committee 2017 Membership Information" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
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