Joe Kent, a former Green Beret and CIA officer, is now poised for a major national security role. President Donald Trump has nominated him to lead the National Counterterrorism Center, citing Kent’s decades of experience hunting down terrorists. Announcing the nomination on Truth Social, Trump praised Kent’s lifelong commitment to protecting America.
But Kent’s battle against terrorism is more than just professional—it’s deeply personal. His first wife, Shannon Kent, a highly skilled Navy cryptologist, was killed in a 2019 suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria.
She was on a mission when a terrorist detonated an explosive inside a restaurant, killing her and three other Americans. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Shannon became the first female service member to die in Syria since American forces arrived in 2015.
Shannon completed 11 combat deployments, balancing the demands of military life while raising their two sons—Colt, born in August 2015, and their youngest, who was just 18 months old at the time of her passing.
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Despite battling thyroid cancer in 2006, Shannon never let it slow her down. She had once casually told Kent about her surgery, saying, “I had a little cancer, but I got it cut out. I didn’t want to bug you.”
While the late veteran recovered and was considered cancer-free, strict military regulations prevented her from becoming a commissioned officer. Yet, Mrs. Kent was still allowed to deploy to some of the most dangerous combat zones.
Kent and Shannon first met during intelligence targeting training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. By that time, Kent had already completed seven deployments to Iraq. The two bonded over their shared dedication to service, eventually marrying on Christmas Eve 2014.
After Shannon’s tragic death, more than 1,000 people attended her memorial service at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. Grieving and determined to be there for his children, Kent resigned from the military to focus on raising his sons and honoring his wife’s legacy.
Who Is Joe Kent Married to Now?
On August 31, 2023, Joe remarried, tying the knot with his second wife Heather Kaiser in an intimate ceremony surrounded by close family.
His children from his first marriage were also part of the special day.
