The Navy SEAL responsible for shooting dead 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden has been revealed as decorated soldier Rob O'Neill. Now retired, the former member of SEAL Team Six was deployed on several missions; along with the apprehension of Bin Laden, O'Neill also served over a dozen tours amounting to 400 combat missions, including those in Iraq and the Indian Ocean, along with the raid on Abbottabad, Pakistan that concluded with Bin Laden's death.

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From Butte, Montana, the 38-year-old O'Neill was decorated 52 times for his 16 years of service before leaving the elite strike force.

He has been portrayed in three different Hollywood blockbusters:  Zero Dark Thirty, an account of the Abbottabad mission, Captain Phillips, where O'Neill was part of the team that rescued the crew of the Maersk Alabama from Somali pirates, and Lone Survivor, the story of Marcus Lutrell, a soldier rendered alone in the Afghan wilderness after the Taliban killed his patrol. O'Neill was on the team that rescued Lutrell. 

However, O'Neill, who has stepped out of anonymity of his own volition, is courting serious controversy with military strategists and the SEALs themselves, for whom secrecy is of the utmost importance. 

Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci and commander Rear Admiral Brian Losey issued a statement that makes clear the importance vow of silence SEALs are expected to maintain, even if they retire: 

"A critical tenant (sic) of our Ethos is 'I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions," Magaraci and Losey wrote. "Violators of our Ethos are neither Teammates in good standing, nor Teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare.

"We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain, which only diminishes otherwise honorable service, courage and sacrifice."

Pentagon officials and other SEALs worry O'Neill, by revealing himself and speaking to the press, will inadvertently leak information that remains classified or that will endanger agents still working in the field. O'Neill spoke to the press on the Osama mission last year in an interview with Esquire, but remained anonymous and was referred to as "The Shooter."

Today, O'Neill is a motivation speaker and security specialist.  

Tags Navy, SEAL, Rob O'Neill, osama bin laden