Joseph Votel

Last updated

Joseph Votel
General Joseph L. Votel (USCENTCOM).jpg
Born (1958-02-14) 14 February 1958 (age 65)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Years of service1980–2019
Rank General
Commands held United States Central Command
United States Special Operations Command
Joint Special Operations Command
Combined Joint Task Force 82
Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization
75th Ranger Regiment
2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division
Battles/wars War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star (4)
Alma mater United States Military Academy (BS)
United States Army Command and General Staff College (MS)
United States Army War College (MS)

Joseph Leonard Votel (born 14 February 1958) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who was commander of United States Central Command from March 2016 to March 2019. [1] Before that, he served as commander of the United States Special Operations Command.

Contents

General Votel most recently served as President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS) – a national, nonprofit composed of senior business and industry executives who volunteer their time and expertise to assist the U.S. national security community.

Early life and education

Born on 14 February 1958, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, [2] Votel attended the United States Military Academy and was commissioned in 1980 as an Army Infantry officer.

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. [3]

Military career

Votel with Secretary of Defense James Mattis who was Votel's predecessor as Commander of U.S. Central Command at the Pentagon, 11 April 2017. SD discusses Syria in press brief 170411-D-GY869-120 (33981233345).jpg
Votel with Secretary of Defense James Mattis who was Votel's predecessor as Commander of U.S. Central Command at the Pentagon, 11 April 2017.

Votel's initial assignments were to the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany, where he served as a rifle platoon leader, executive officer, battalion adjutant, and rifle company commander. Following this tour, he was assigned to Headquarters, Allied Forces Southern Europe – Naples, Italy, and the NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) in Sarajevo. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry (Light) at Fort Drum, New York, and afterward commanded the 1st Ranger Battalion. Later he commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment during Operation Enduring Freedom. [4] On 19 October 2001, Votel led 200 Rangers from 3rd Battalion, who parachuted towards an airfield south of Kandahar in an operation known as Operation Rhino and attacked several Taliban targets. [5]

As a general officer, Votel served in the Pentagon as the Director of the Army and Joint Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Task Force and subsequently as the deputy director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization established under the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 82nd Airborne Division / CJTF-82, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg. He next served as the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command. [3]

USSOCOM and USCENTCOM Commander

On 24 June 2014, Votel was nominated by President Barack Obama to succeed Admiral William H. McRaven as the 10th Commander of United States Special Operations Command. The appointment was confirmed by Congress in July, and the change of command took place on 28 August. [6] Lieutenant General Raymond A. Thomas replaced Votel as commander of Joint Special Operations Command.

Votel (right) visiting Manbij, Syria as CENTCOM commander, 21 June 2018 Joseph Votel in Syria.jpg
Votel (right) visiting Manbij, Syria as CENTCOM commander, 21 June 2018

Votel became the commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) on 30 March 2016. On 23 April 2018, Votel made his first official visit to Israel as CENTCOM commander. During his visit, Votel was scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Force Chief of Staff, Gadi Eisenkot, National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, and other senior defense officials. [7]

As CENTCOM commander, Votel oversaw the United States' continued War on Terrorism in the Middle East, particularly the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve's fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terror organization, which rose to prominence in 2014. The fight against the group saw CENTCOM become more involved in the Syrian civil war and Iraqi Civil War.

After nearly 40 years of military service, Votel officially retired on 28 March 2019, five days after the decisive Battle of Baghuz Fawqani, which saw the territorial collapse of the Islamic State in Syria. He was succeeded as CENTCOM commander by General Kenneth McKenzie, USMC. [8]

2016 Turkey coup attempt

In a speech on 29 July 2016, Turkish President Erdoğan accused Votel of "siding with coup plotters", [9] after Votel accused the Turkish government of arresting the Pentagon's contacts in Turkey. [10]

Post-military career

Votel has served as the President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS). [11] He also serves as a non-resident senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, strategic advisor to aerospace manufacturer Sierra Nevada Corporation, and member of the board of trustees of Noblis. [12]

Awards and decorations

CIB2.svg Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger Tab
CMP 2.jpg Master Parachutist Badge with 2 Combat Jump Devices
Egyptian Parachutist Badge.PNG Egyptian Parachutist Badge
United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png Army Staff Identification Badge
Official CENTCOM Seal.png    United States Central Command Badge
75 Ranger Regiment SCSIB.png 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
75 Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia.svg 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB.svg 8 Overseas Service Bars
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg
Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg Superior Unit Award
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Arrowhead device.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze Service Star
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg Arrowhead device.svg Silver-service-star-3d.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Device and silver Campaign Star
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 3.svg Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 3
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg
NATO Medal for service with ISAF with bronze Service Star

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References

  1. Tara Copp (21 August 2018). "New CENTCOM, SOCOM leadership named". Military Times. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  2. "NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SECOND SESSION, 113TH CONGRESS" (PDF). Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents. 2015. pp. 789–793. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 , U.S. Department of Defense, dated 2014.
  4. Dan Lamothe, The swift, quiet rise of Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel, Special Operations commander, The Washington Post, 25 June 2014.
  5. Gal Perl Finkel, Win the close fight, The Jerusalem Post, 21 March 2017.
  6. Votel to succeed McRaven as SOCOM commander at MacDill, Tampa Bay Times, by Zack Peterson, 24 July 2014, last accessed 25 July 2014
  7. "Commander of US troops in Syria makes unannounced first visit to Israel". Times of Israel.
  8. "US Marine Corps General McKenzie replaces retiring Votel as CENTCOM Commander". 29 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  9. "Turkey's Erdoğan to drop lawsuits against people who insulted him". BBC News. 29 July 2016.
  10. Lake, Eli (28 July 2016). "America's Friends Get Arrested in Turkey's Post-Coup Purges". Bloomberg View.
  11. "Joseph Votel - Business Executives for National Security".
  12. "Noblis Welcomes General Joseph Votel to its Board of Trustees". 3 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment
2001–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of Joint Special Operations Command
2011–2014
Succeeded by
Commander of United States Special Operations Command
2014–2016
Preceded by Commander of United States Central Command
2016–2019
Succeeded by