Joseph Votel
Joseph L. Votel III | |
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 then-Lieutenant General Joseph Votel | |
| Born | February 14, 1958 Minnesota, United States |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1980–present |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands held | |
| Awards | |
Joseph Leopard Votel III is a four-star general in the United States Army who currently serves as the 10th commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Prior to that, he served as commander of Joint Special Operations Command from June 2011 to July 29, 2014. He replaced Admiral William McRaven as commander of U.S. Special Operations Command on August 28, 2014.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Early career
Votel was born in 1958 in Minnesota.[7] He attended the United States Military Academy and was commissioned in 1980. He began his career as a Rifle Platoon Leader, later becoming the Executive Officer, A Company, later S-1 (Personnel), moving up to Commander, A Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.[5]
Other assignments include: Small Groups Tactics Instructor, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia; Plans/Liaison Officer, later S-3 (Plans), 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia; Operation Just Cause, Panama; Staff Officer, Contingency Initiatives Branch, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy; NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR), Sarajevo; commander 2nd Battalion, 22d Infantry (Light) at Fort Drum, New York; Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia; and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.[5]
General Officer
As a general officer, he served as Deputy Director, Joint IED Defeat Organization, Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC. He also served as Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 82d Airborne Division/Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Combined Joint Task Force 76, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and, most recently, Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[5]
USSOCOM
On June 24, 2014, he was nominated by President Barack Obama to succeed ADM William McRaven as the 10th Commander of United States Special Operations Command. In July, he was confirmed by congress to be the next commander of USSOCOM. The change of command took place on August 28, 2014.[6] LTG Raymond A. Thomas replaced Votel as commander of Joint Special Operations Command.
Education
His military schools include Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.[5]
Awards and decorations
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 Army Distinguished Service Medal
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 Defense Meritorious Service Medal
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 Army Commendation Medal
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 Joint Meritorious Unit Award
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 Superior Unit Award
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 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
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 Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
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 Army Service Ribbon
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  Army Overseas Service Ribbon with "2" Award Numeral Device
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 NATO Medal (for the former Yugoslavia)
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References
- ^ Stars and Stripes staff. "McRaven nominated to lead Special Ops". Stars and Stripes.
- ^ Spencer Ackerman. "Pentagon's Clandestine Killers Get New Chief". Wired.com.
- ^ Howard Altman. "Special Operations Command Chief of Staff Votel Named to Head JSOC".
- ^ Henry Cuningham. "Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel takes JSOC command from Vice Adm. William McRaven".
- ^ a b c d e Official Biography: Lieutenant General Joseph L. Votel Commander, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Department of Defense, dated 2013, last accessed 15 June 2014
- ^ a b Votel to succeed McRaven as SOCom commander at MacDill, Tampa Bay Times, By Zack Peterson, dated 24 July 2014, last accessed 25 July 2014
- ^ [1]
- American military personnel of the Iraq War
- American military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- Colonels of the 75th Ranger Regiment
- Living people
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- United States Army generals
- 1962 births
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal