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.
House Panel Proposes Eliminating SDA, Space RCO
May 27, 2026
House lawmakers this week included language in their version of the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill that would dissolve two Space Force rapid acquisition organizations, absorbing their programs and potentially replicating their authorities in the service’s new portfolio-based acquisition system.