William H. McRaven

William Harry McRaven (born November 6, 1955) is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command from August 8, 2011, to August 28, 2014. From 2015 to 2018, he was the chancellor of The University of Texas System.

William McRaven
Birth name	William Harry McRaven
Born	(1955-11-06) November 6, 1955 Pinehurst, North Carolina, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1977–2014
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	U.S. Special Operations Command Joint Special Operations Command Special Operations Command Europe Naval Special Warfare Group 1 SEAL Team 3 SEAL Team 6
Battles/wars	Persian Gulf War  • Operation Desert Shield  • Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom  • War in Afghanistan Iraq War Operation Neptune Spear
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (2)
Spouse(s)	Georgeann Brady McRaven

McRaven previously served from June 13, 2008, to August 2011 as commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)[1] and from June 2006 to March 2008 as commander of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).[1] In addition to his duties as COMSOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre (NSCC), where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and inter-operability of all NATO Special Operations Forces. McRaven retired from the U.S. Navy on August 28, 2014, after more than 37 years of service.[2]

Early life

McRaven was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina. His father, a career Air Force officer, was stationed at Pope Air Force Base, now known as Pope Field, part of Fort Bragg. He has two older sisters. His family moved to Texas while he was in elementary school and settled in San Antonio. He attended Theodore Roosevelt High School where he took part in track.[3] He is the son of Anna Elizabeth (Long) and Col. Claude C. McRaven, a Spitfire fighter pilot in World War II[4][5] who played briefly in the NFL.[6]

McRaven attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a walk-on member of the track team, and was a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. He graduated in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in journalism,[7] and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2012.[8][9] McRaven holds a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he helped establish and was the first graduate from the Special operations/Low intensity conflict curriculum.

Career

Special operations

After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, McRaven was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and volunteered for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S). After six months of training, Mcraven graduated BUD/S class 95 in January 1978. As a Navy SEAL officer, McRaven was deployed to the Philippines.[10] In 1982, as a junior officer, McRaven was assigned to SEAL Team Six under the command of CDR Richard Marcinko but was removed one year later due to McRaven's concerns about military discipline, and difficulties in keeping his sailors in line. Richard Marcinko fired the 27-year-old McRaven in 1983. "He was a bright guy, but he didn't like my rude and crude way," Marcinko said. "If I was a loose cannon, he was too rigid. He took the special out of special warfare."[11] McRaven later returned as a squadron commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

Mcraven served numerous staff and command assignments within the special operations community, including platoon commander at Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team Four, Executive Officer of SEAL Team ONE, task unit commander during the Persian Gulf War, task group commander in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, commanding officer of SEAL Team THREE, deputy commander for operations at JSOC, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Group ONE from 1999 to 2001. McRaven earned his Master of Arts degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, in 1993. McRaven's thesis was titled "The Theory of Special Operations" (republished in 1995 as Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice).[12]

McRaven later served as a staff officer with an interagency coordination focus, including as the director for Strategic Planning in the Office of Combating Terrorism on the National Security Council Staff, assessment director at U.S. Special Operations Command, on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and the chief of staff at Naval Special Warfare Group 1.

McRaven was the deputy to General Stanley A. McChrystal, and later leader, of a battle group targeting Al Qaeda in Iraq called 'Task Force 714' which proved to be innovative and highly successful.[13]

Georgeann Brady McRaven, McRaven's wife, and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta affix Navy Adm. William H. McRaven's new rank as a Four-Star Admiral at a U.S. Special Operations Command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Florida, August 8, 2011

(L-R) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaks with William McRaven, at a reception at the LBJ Presidential Library, in the background, at center, is Carmel Fenves, wife of University of Texas at Austin president Greg Fenves

On April 6, 2011, McRaven was nominated by President Barack Obama for promotion from the rank of vice admiral to admiral and appointed as the ninth commander of USSOCOM,[14] of which JSOC is a component.

In his confirmation hearings, McRaven "endorsed a steady manpower growth rate of 3% to 5% a year" and favored more resources for USSOCOM. After the Armed Services committee hearings, in late June, McRaven was confirmed unanimously by the Senate for his promotion to full Admiral and assignment as commander of USSOCOM[15] and took command August 8. The transfer ceremony was led by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in Tampa, with ADM Eric T. Olson also in attendance, two days after the Wardak Province helicopter crash which cost 30 Americans, including 22 SEALs, their lives. With several hundred in attendance, Panetta spoke of sending "a strong message of American resolve [and] ... carry[ing] on the fight".[6]

Operation Neptune Spear

McRaven is credited for organizing and overseeing the execution of Operation Neptune Spear,[16] the special ops raid that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011. CIA Director Leon Panetta delegated operational & executional decisions on the raid to McRaven, who had worked almost exclusively on counter-terrorism operations and strategy since 2001.[16]

According to The New York Times, "In February, Mr. Panetta called then-Vice Adm. William H. McRaven, commander of the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command, to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, to give him details about the compound and to begin planning a military strike. Admiral McRaven, a veteran of the covert world who had written a book on American Special Operations, spent weeks working with the CIA on the operation, and came up with three options: a helicopter assault using U.S. Navy SEALs, a strike with B-2 bombers that would obliterate the compound, or a joint raid with Pakistani intelligence operatives who would be told about the mission hours before the launch."[17] The day before the assault, President Obama "took a break from rehearsing for the White House Correspondents Dinner that night to call Admiral McRaven, to wish him luck".[17]

A June 2013 Freedom of Information request revealed that on May 13, 2011, McRaven sent email titled "OPSEC Guidance / Neptune Spear" that instructed redacted recipients that "all photos [of UBL's remains] should have been turned over to the CIA; if you still have them destroy them immediately" or "get them to" a recipient whose identity was redacted.[18][19]

In December 2011, McRaven was runner-up for Time Person of the Year for his role in the operation.[20]

Retirement from the military

In June 2014, it was announced that Admiral McRaven had his request for retirement approved after a 37-year career.[21] Admiral McRaven retired from the U.S. Navy on September 1, 2014. During the last few years of his career he was also Bull Frog, the longest serving Navy SEAL still on duty, having succeeded his SOCOM predecessor Eric T. Olson in the title.[22][23]

The University of Texas Chancellor

Admiral McRaven was selected as the next chancellor of the University of Texas System in July 2014. He was appointed on January 5, 2015.[24][25]

The Trump campaign transition team considered McRaven as a potential candidate for National Security Adviser.[26]

On May 31, 2018, McRaven stepped down from his position as chancellor of the university,[27] due to chronic health issues and a desire to spend more time with his family.[28]

Disputes with President Trump

"Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency."

William McRaven, open letter to President Donald Trump, August 16, 2018[29]

In August 2018, McRaven expressed support for former CIA Director John O. Brennan, whose security clearance had recently been revoked by the Trump Administration. He authored an open letter to President Donald Trump in The Washington Post entitled "Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President", in which he affirmed his regard for Brennan, his former colleague, and offered criticism of the decisions and personal behavior of President Trump.[29] McRaven said of Brennan, "He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question ... except by those who don't know him." Of Trump, McRaven wrote, "Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation."[30]

In a November 18, 2018, interview on Fox News, Chris Wallace mentioned McRaven's name. Trump retorted twice, "Hillary Clinton fan" and accused McRaven of being a fan of former President Barack Obama. McRaven later told CNN, "I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else. I am a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for. I admire all presidents, regardless of their political party, who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the nation together in challenging times."[31] One media source noted that Trump's ire seemed to be rooted in "McRaven’s criticism that the president’s rhetoric toward the press is the 'greatest threat to democracy' in his lifetime".[32]

On October 17, 2019, McRaven published an op-ed in The New York Times with the headline "Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President" arguing that if Trump did not demonstrate leadership, the sooner he is replaced, the better. He elaborated his position in a CNN interview the same day, saying that Trump was undermining domestic institutions and damaging America's international standing, especially with respect to the treatment of the Kurds during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria.[33]

Upon the February 2020 dismissal by the president of Joseph Maguire for having briefed congressional intelligence committee members about emerging evidence of foreign efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, McRaven authored a guest editorial in The Washington Post in which he declared that, "As Americans, we should be frightened — deeply afraid for the future of the nation. When good men and women can’t speak the truth, when facts are inconvenient, when integrity and character no longer matter, when presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security — then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil." [34]

Personal life

McRaven is the son of a career Air Force officer.[35] McRaven married Georgeann Brady McRaven, then a fellow undergraduate at the University of Texas, in 1978.[36][37] They have three children.[38] McRaven attended the 2012 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner as the guest of his fifth grade classmate, Karen Tumulty.[39]

Awards and decorations

Award ribbons and badges

Award and badge names

Naval Special Warfare insignia

Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ two bronze oak leaf clusters

Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster	Legion of Merit with one gold award star	Bronze Star Medal with gold award star	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three gold award stars	Joint Service Commendation Medal	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon	Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars	National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal	Navy "E" Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star	Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze service stars	Afghanistan Campaign Medal	Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon	Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
Presidential Service Badge		United States Special Operations Command Badge

Bibliography

• McRaven, William H. (1995). Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare Theory and Practice. Presidio Press. ISBN 978-0-89141-544-2. (Paperback: ISBN 978-0-89141-600-5)
• McRaven, William H. (2017). Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1455570249.
• McRaven, William H. (2019). Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5837-2974-8.

In media

• Dirty Wars, a 2013 American documentary, includes McRaven revisiting the site and survivors of the Khataba raid to apologize.
• His 2014 commencement address for the University of Texas at Austin received over 10,000,000 views (As of Dec. 2019) on YouTube.[40][41][42]
• He was portrayed by Christopher Stanley in the 2012 film Zero Dark Thirty.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy document: "Admiral William H. McRaven".

1. "Joint Special Operations Command Change of Command" (Press release). USSOCOM. June 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
2. "Navy SEAL behind bin Laden mission hails from San Antonio". KENS. May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
3. "McRaven confirmed as new UT system chancellor". Army Times. Associated Press. August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
4. "Claude McRaven Obituary - Austin, TX - Austin American-Statesman". Austin American-Statesman.
5. Lloyd, Jennifer R. (August 2, 2014). "Adm. McRaven will bring fearlessness, humble nature to UT System". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
6. Levesque, William R. (August 9, 2011). "SOCom gets new commander in ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
7. Christian, Carol (May 3, 2011). "Head of unit that killed bin Laden has Texas ties". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
8. "The lowdown on higher education". Austin American-Statesman. May 8, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
9. "All Hail the Texas Exes' 2012 Distinguished Alumni". The Alcalde. May 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
10. Gal Perl Finkel (March 7, 2017). "A New Strategy Against ISIS". The Jerusalem Post.
11. Mazzetti, Mark; Kulish, Nicholas; Drew, Christopher; Kovaleski, Serge F.; Naylor, Sean D.; Ismay, John (June 6, 2015). "SEAL Team 6: A Secret History of Quiet Killings and Blurred Lines". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
12. "The Theory of Special Operations". June 18, 1993.
13. Shultz, Richard H.; Joint Special Operations University. (2016). Military innovation in war : it takes a learning organization, a case study of Task Force 714 in Iraq. MacDill Air Force Base, Florida :The JSOU Press. JSOU report, 16-6 Retrieved 9 January 2020.
14. "Flag Officer Announcements". Defense.gov (Press release). Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). April 6, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
15. Ahearn, Dave (July 2011). "Editor's Perspective". Special Operations Technology. 9 (5). Retrieved August 5, 2011.
16. Whitlock, Craig (May 4, 2011). "Osama bin Laden dead: Hamas condemns killing of bin Laden". The Washington Post. London. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
17. Mazzetti, Mark; Cooper, Helene; Baker, Peter (May 2, 2011). "Clues Gradually Led to the Location of Osama bin Laden". The New York Times. pp. 2–3.
18. "Judicial Watch v. DoD, 13-cv-1343 (JDB)" (PDF). Judicial Watch. January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
19. McConnell, Dugald (February 11, 2014). "Admiral's e-mail on photos of Osama bin Laden's corpse: 'Destroy them'". CNN. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
20. Gellman, Barton (December 14, 2011). "William McRaven: The Admiral". Time Magazine.
21. Wright, Austin (July 1, 2014). "McRaven Approved for Retirement". Politico: Morning Defense. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
22. "Longest Serving Navy SEAL Passes on Legacy Title". United States Navy. August 26, 2011.
23. Caruso, Robert (July 14, 2014). "Opinion: The Legacy of Adm. William McRaven". United States Naval Institute.
24. Vertuno, Jim (July 29, 2014). "University of Texas Picking William McRaven As New Chancellor". Retrieved June 19, 2015.
25. "UT regents confirm McRaven as next system chancellor - Austin Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
26. Bergen, Peter. (2019). Trump and his generals: the cost of chaos. New York:Penguin Press. ISBN 978-0-525-52241-6. p. 46.
27. "Former Chancellors". University of Texas System. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
28. "McRaven to Step Down as Chancellor in 2018". The University of Texas System. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
29. McRaven, William (August 16, 2018). "Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
30. "Retired US Navy admiral William McRaven praises John Brennan, says he won't be scared into silence by Donald Trump". ABC News. Reuters. August 17, 2018.
31. Jake Tapper; Devan Cole. "Architect of bin Laden raid: Trump 'threatens the Constitution' when he attacks the media". CNN. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
32. Samuels, Brett, Trump stokes new unlikely feud, The Hill, November 19, 2018
33. LeBlanc, Paul (October 17, 2019). "Architect of bin Laden raid says Trump is working to 'destroy' the country". CNN. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
34. McRaven, William H., William McRaven: If good men like Joe Maguire can’t speak the truth, we should be deeply afraid, Washington Post, February 21, 2020
35. "James B. Milliken Biography". University of Texas System. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
36. "Navy hero and his first mate make brain health their special ops". The Dallas Morning News. January 20, 2019.
37. "The full interview with the 2011 Texan of the Year, Bill McRaven". Dallas Morning News. December 24, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
38. "The Quiet Professional". The Alcalde. Texas Exes. June 24, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
39. Parker, Kathleen (May 1, 2012). "The unknown celebrity". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
40. William H. McRaven (2014). University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address. Austin, Texas. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
41. William H. McRaven (May 23, 2014). University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address - Admiral William H. McRaven. Austin, Texas. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
42. Paul Caron, ed. (May 26, 2014). "Ten Life Lessons From Navy SEAL Training (transcript)". Retrieved May 27, 2014.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Admiral William H. McRaven, USN, Biography and Interview on American Academy of Achievement

Military offices
Preceded by Stanley McChrystal	Commander of Joint Special Operations Command 2008–2011	Succeeded by Joseph Votel
Preceded by Eric Olson	Commander of United States Special Operations Command 2011–2014
Academic offices
Preceded by Francisco G. Cigarroa	Chancellor of the University of Texas System 2015–2018	Succeeded by James Milliken