Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel III assumed responsibility of the U.S. Special Operations Command at a ceremony Thursday held in Florida, DoD News reported Thursday.Claudette Roulo writes that Votel succeeds Adm. William McRaven, who has stepped down after three years of Socom leadership and is moving to the University of Texas as chancellor.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told event audience that Votel’s “quiet, decisive leadership — combining both operational and strategic expertise — is precisely what this command will need as we confront the next generation of threats to our national security.”
Hagel has commended McRaven for leading the organization through international counterterrorism, security and disaster response missions.
“He modified Socom’s definition of readiness to include families as a vital part of the equation, something the entire Department of Defense can learn from,†Hagel said of McRaven, according to DoD News.
McRaven also helped establish a special operations/low intensity conflict program at the Naval Postgraduate School and the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre in Europe, the Defense Secretary added.
