| Joseph L. Votel | |
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Lieutenant General Joseph Votel as a Brigadier General |
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| Born | October 15, 1962 |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1980–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Joint Special Operations Command Combined Joint Task Force 82 Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization 75th Ranger Regiment 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal |
Joseph L. Votel is a Lieutenant General in the United States Army and the former Special Operations Command Chief of Staff. In June 2011, Votel succeeded Admiral William McRaven as the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command.[1] [2] [3] [4]
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Votel 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.
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, and 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 and NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR), Sarajevo; Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.
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.
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.
| Distinguished Service Medal |
| Defense Superior Service Medal |
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| Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
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| Army Commendation Medal |
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| Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award) |
| Expert Infantryman Badge |
| Master Parachutist Badge with 2 Bronze Stars (denoting 2 combat jumps) |
| Ranger Tab |