Gratitude - Shannon Kent
Be thankful for people like Shannon Kent. Shannon Mary Kent was a United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and cryptologic technician whose remarkable military career was marked by courage, linguistic prowess, and trailblazing service in special operations. Born on May 11, 1983, in Oswego, New York, and raised in Pine Plains, Kent grew up in a family with a strong tradition of service—her father, Colonel Stephen Smith, was a high-ranking New York State Police officer, her uncle was a firefighter who responded to 9/11, and her brother served in the Marine Corps. The 9/11 attacks were a significant motivator for her decision to enlist in the Navy on December 11, 2003, at the age of 20.
After completing boot camp at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in February 2004, Kent was assigned to Navy Information Operations Command in Fort Gordon, Georgia. Early in her career, she demonstrated exceptional linguistic talent, becoming fluent in seven languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, and six Arabic dialects. This skill set made her a critical asset in cryptologic warfare, specializing in signals intelligence (SIGINT) and human intelligence (HUMINT) to support special operations missions. Her first major deployment came in 2007 when she volunteered for an Individual Augmentation assignment to Iraq, providing intelligence support to SEAL Team 10. Her work there earned her a Joint Service Commendation Medal, with the citation noting her contributions to the capture of hundreds of enemy insurgents.
Kent’s career trajectory took her deeper into the special operations community. In 2008, she underwent the Naval Special Warfare Direct Support Course, becoming one of the first women to complete it. This rigorous training, which included timed ruck marches, close-quarters combat, and weapons familiarization, prepared her to serve alongside Navy SEALs in combat zones. Assigned to Naval Special Warfare Support Activity 2 in Norfolk, Virginia, she deployed again to Iraq with SEAL Team 10 in 2009 and SEAL Team 4 in 2010-2011, followed by her first deployment to Afghanistan with SEAL Team 4 in 2012-2013. Her ability to operate in low-visibility missions, often without body armor and armed only with a Glock pistol, showcased her adaptability and bravery. She was known for her ability to blend into local environments, using her linguistic skills to gather intelligence on high-value targets.
In 2013, Kent was selected for an elite special missions unit within the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), specifically the Intelligence Support Activity. During this period, she trained alongside her future husband, Joe Kent, a Green Beret, whom she met during a selection course in northern Virginia. Her work with this unit involved highly classified operations, including planning and executing sensitive technical missions across four theaters of operation. Her efforts resulted in the capture or elimination of over 500 enemy combatants, and she introduced new capabilities to the National Security Agency (NSA) that closed critical intelligence gaps. Kent’s contributions were recognized with a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, among other accolades.
Despite her demanding career, Kent pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Adler University in 2015 and a master’s degree in military psychology in 2018, often while pregnant or raising her two young sons, Colt and Josh. In February 2018, she was accepted into the Navy’s doctorate psychology program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, but her acceptance was rescinded due to a prior thyroid cancer diagnosis from 2006, which the Navy deemed made her medically unfit to commission as an officer. Kent fought this decision, applying for a waiver and seeking congressional support, even writing an op-ed titled “If You’re Fit for Combat, Why Aren’t You Fit To Be an Officer in the Navy?” Her advocacy led to the Navy revising its medical waiver policies posthumously in her honor, benefiting other sailors.
Kent’s final deployment was to Syria in November 2018 with Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66, supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. On January 16, 2019, while on a mission in Manbij, Syria, to hunt ISIS leaders, she was killed in a suicide bombing at the Palace of the Princes restaurant. The attack, claimed by ISIS, also killed three other Americans: Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Farmer, former SEAL Scott Wirtz, and civilian interpreter Ghadir Taher, along with 11 Syrian nationals. Kent was 35 years old and on her fifth combat deployment. She was posthumously promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Her name was added to the NSA’s Cryptologic Memorial Wall, and she was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Kent’s legacy is profound. She was the first female U.S. service member killed in combat in Syria since operations against ISIS began in 2014 and the first female service member killed by enemy fire in over three years. Her fearless competence and linguistic expertise directly contributed to degrading enemy networks, and her trailblazing role paved the way for greater inclusion of women in special operations. Her story is detailed in the book Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War, co-authored by her husband, Joe Kent, and journalist Marty Skovlund Jr., which highlights her valor, dedication, and love for her family and country. The Pine Plains post office was named in her honor, and efforts have been made to name a Navy destroyer after her, reflecting her enduring impact.
Shannon Kent’s military service exemplifies resilience, intelligence, and sacrifice, leaving a lasting legacy in the special operations and cryptologic communities.
