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William H. McRaven

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William H. McRaven
NameWilliam H. McRaven
CaptionAdmiral William H. McRaven
Birth date6 November 1955
Birth placePinehurst, North Carolina, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
Serviceyears1977–2014
RankAdmiral
CommandsUnited States Special Operations Command, United States Joint Special Operations Command, Special Operations Command Europe, SEAL Team 3
BattlesWar in Afghanistan, Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA), Naval Postgraduate School (MA)
SpouseGeorgeann Brady, 1977

William H. McRaven is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014. He is best known for planning and overseeing the 2011 raid that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. A career Navy SEAL officer, McRaven's leadership and strategic vision have had a profound impact on modern special operations and national security policy.

Early life and education

William Harry McRaven was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and spent much of his youth in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Roosevelt High School before enrolling at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. While at the university, he participated in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where his thesis on special operations theory became influential within the United States Department of Defense.

Commissioned as a naval officer in 1977, McRaven underwent the rigorous training to become a Navy SEAL, joining SEAL Team ONE. His early assignments included deployments to the Pacific Command and Southern Command areas of responsibility. He commanded SEAL Team 3 and later served as a staff officer for the Chief of Naval Operations. Key staff roles followed, including positions on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and as the first director of the Navy Irregular Warfare Office. He commanded Special Operations Command Europe during the NATO campaigns in the Balkans and later led the United States Joint Special Operations Command during the height of the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.

Operation Neptune Spear

As commander of the United States Joint Special Operations Command in 2011, McRaven was the on-scene commander for the historic Operation Neptune Spear. The mission, authorized by President Barack Obama, involved a team from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group conducting a helicopter assault on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The successful operation resulted in the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. McRaven's meticulous planning, which drew upon principles from his postgraduate thesis and lessons from prior operations like the Battle of Mogadishu, was critical to the mission's execution and minimal casualties.

Post-military career and public service

Following his retirement from the United States Navy in 2014, McRaven served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System until 2018. He has been a prominent public speaker and author, publishing the best-selling book *Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World*, based on a popular UT Austin commencement speech. He has also served as a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and sits on several corporate and non-profit boards, including the Council on Foreign Relations and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Personal life

McRaven married Georgeann Brady in 1977. The couple has three adult children. He has been open about his personal struggles, including his diagnosis with and treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. An advocate for veterans' issues, he has worked with organizations like the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Awards and decorations

Admiral McRaven's military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. He has also received the Intelligence Star for his role in sensitive operations and is a recipient of the Order of the Sword from the United States Air Force Air Commandos. His unit awards include the Presidential Unit Citation and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

Category:United States Navy admirals Category:United States Navy SEALs Category:1955 births Category:Living people