Lieutenant General Steve Marks assumed duties as the Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and Director, Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) on March 6th, 2026.
Prior to this assignment, Lieutenant General Marks served as the Director for Resources and Requirements (J-8), USSOCOM. His other general officer assignments include Director of Material for the U.S. Army G-8 and Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Lieutenant General Marks was raised in Columbia, Missouri and earned his commission through the University of Missouri ROTC program. After being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992 at Officer Basic Course, he reported to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Lieutenant General Marks has extensive special operations experience alongside NATO and regional partners. He departed for Afghanistan in February of 2002 as one of the earliest groups of Americans to deploy in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks and has since led U.S. combat formations in Afghanistan at every level.
A career special operations officer, he served as the Commander of the Special Operations Task Force – Northeast, commanded U.S. Army Garrison – Italy, and served in multiple directorates in the Joint Special Operations Command.
His awards and decorations reflect 34 years of service and nearly a decade of combat
experience in Afghanistan. Honors include the Combat Infantry Badge, Special Forces Tab,
and Ranger Tab.
Became the vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, March 2026.
- Director for Resources and Requirements (J8)