William Harry McRaven

Admiral, U.S. Navy

William Harry McRaven was born on 6 November 1955 in San Antonio, TX, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School. He is the son of the late Col. Claude "Mac" McRaven, World War II pilot who played briefly in the NFL. McRaven attended the University of Texas at Austin on a track scholarship, and was a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. He graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. 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 in Special Operations

McRaven has commanded at every level within the special operations community, including assignments as Deputy Commanding General for Operations at JSOC, Commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, Commander of SEAL Team 3, Task Group Commander in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, Task Unit Commander during the Gulf War, Squadron Commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and SEAL Platoon Commander at Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team 4.

McRaven has also 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.

On 8 August 2011, McRaven was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and named as the 9th Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), 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, including "additional drones and the construction of new special operations facilities." After the Armed Services committee hearings, in late June, McRaven was confirmed unanimously by the Senate for his promotion to Admiral and as Commander of USSOCOM and took command 8 August. The transfer ceremony was led by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in Tampa, with 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."

Operation Neptune's Spear: Death of Osama bin Laden

McRaven is credited for organizing and executing Operation Neptune's Spear, the special ops raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden. CIA Director Leon Panetta delegated the raid to McRaven who has worked almost exclusively on counterterrorism operations and strategy since 2001. According to the New York Times, "In February, Mr. Panetta called Vice Adm. William H. McRaven, commander of the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command, to C.I.A. headquarters in Langley, Va., 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." The day before the assault, "Mr. Obama took a break from rehearsing for the White House Correspondents Dinner that night to call Admiral McRaven, to wish him luck."

Medals and Awards

Defense Superior Service Medal (2 Awards)
Legion of Merit (2 Awards)
Bronze Star Medals (2 Awards)

Badges

SEAL Trident