The Defense Department on Monday identified the soldier killed Saturday in Afghanistan as SSgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Md. De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin AFB, Fla. His unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire in Nangarhar Province while it was conducting operations targeting ISIS in the Achin district of the province, according to an Operation Resolute Support statement.
President Donald Trump wants his signature Golden Dome missile defense program to be up and running before the end of his term and has tapped Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein to lead the project.