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Joseph Votel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Votel
Official portrait, 2016
Born (1958-02-14) 14 February 1958 (age 66)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1980–2019
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited 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 / warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star (4)
Alma materUnited 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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)
Ranger Tab
Master Parachutist Badge with 2 Combat Jump Devices
Egyptian Parachutist Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
  United States Central Command Badge
75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
8 Overseas Service Bars
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster
Valorous Unit Award
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Superior Unit Award
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Arrowhead
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze Service Star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Device and silver Campaign Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 3
Bronze star
NATO Medal for service with ISAF with bronze Service Star

References

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  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. ^ a b [1], 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. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
[edit]
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