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2024-09-22 08:20:01

William H. McRaven

Retired US Navy Admiral and former SOCOM commander
Retired US Navy Admiral and former SOCOM commander

William H. McRaven served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command and later as the chancellor of The University of Texas System. He retired from the U.S. Navy after over 37 years of service.

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1955-11-06
William Harry McRaven Born

William Harry McRaven, a retired United States Navy four-star admiral, was born on November 6, 1955. He served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and later became the chancellor of The University of Texas System.

1977
Graduation from University of Texas with a Bachelor's in Journalism

William H. McRaven graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism in 1977. He later joined Navy ROTC.

1978-01
Graduation from BUD/S Class 95

After six months of training, McRaven graduated with BUD/S class 95 in January 1978.

1980
William McRaven Earns Bachelor's Degree

In 1980, William McRaven earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

1983
Relieved of Duty from SEAL Team Six

McRaven served as assault team leader but was relieved of duty in 1983 due to concerns about military discipline and difficulties in keeping his sailors in line at the command.

1990-01
McRaven serves in Persian Gulf War

During the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91, McRaven served as a task unit commander in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

1991
Master's Degree from Naval Post Graduate School

In 1991, William H. McRaven completed his Master's Degree at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. His graduate thesis on military theory was later published as the book 'SPEC OPS' by Random House in 1995.

1993
Publication of 'Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice'

McRaven authored the book 'Spec Ops' which is considered a key text in the field of special operations strategy, published in multiple languages.

1995
Publication of 'Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare Theory and Practice'

In 1995, William H. McRaven published 'Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare Theory and Practice' which delves into the study of special operations warfare.

1996
Publication of 'Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice'

William H. McRaven's master's thesis, 'The Theory of Special Operations', was published in 1996 as 'Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice'. It has been widely recognized and studied globally.

1997
Publication of SPEC OPS

The book SPEC OPS, authored by William H. McRaven, was published in 1997. It has sold over 60,000 copies and has been translated into multiple languages.

2001-09-11
September 11, 2001 Attacks

Captain McRaven witnessed the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon from his hospital bed, realizing the United States was entering a new era of armed conflict.

2006-06
McRaven Becomes Commander of SOCEUR

From June 2006 to March 2008, William Harry McRaven served as the commander of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), demonstrating his expertise in special operations in the European theater.

2008-06-13
McRaven Becomes Commander of JSOC

In June 13, 2008, William Harry McRaven took on the role of commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), showcasing his leadership in special operations.

2009
McRaven briefing President Obama in the Oval Office

Admiral McRaven briefed President Obama in the Oval Office alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Faris in 2009.

2011-04-06
Nomination of McRaven as Commander of USSOCOM

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.

2011-05-01
Operation Neptune Spear

Admiral McRaven led the operation where Seal Team Six carried out a successful mission to eliminate Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

2011-05-02
Operation Neptune's Spear

McRaven organized and oversaw the execution of Operation Neptune's Spear, the special ops raid that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011.

2011-05-13
Email regarding UBL's remains

In May 2011, Admiral McRaven sent an email instructing recipients to turn over all photos of UBL's remains to the CIA and destroy them immediately.

2011-08-08
McRaven Becomes Commander of SOCOM

William Harry McRaven assumed the role of the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) on August 8, 2011, a position he held until August 28, 2014.

2012
Foreign Policy Top 10 Foreign Policy Experts

In 2012, Foreign Policy magazine named William H. McRaven one of the nation's Top 10 Foreign Policy Experts.

2013
Dirty Wars Documentary

The 2013 American documentary, Dirty Wars, features Admiral William McRaven revisiting the site and survivors of the Khataba raid to apologize. The documentary sheds light on the complexities of military operations and their consequences.

2014-09-01
McRaven Retires from U.S. Navy

After more than 37 years of service, William Harry McRaven retired from the U.S. Navy on September 1, 2014, concluding a distinguished military career.

2015-01
William H. McRaven Becomes Chancellor of University of Texas System

In January 2015, William H. McRaven assumed the role of Chancellor of the University of Texas System. He is a retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral and leads one of the largest higher education systems in the nation.

2016
Recipient of Ambassador Richard M. Helms Award

In 2016, Admiral McRaven was named the recipient of the Ambassador Richard M. Helms Award by the Central Intelligence Agency Officers Memorial Foundation.

2017
Publication of 'Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World'

In 2017, William H. McRaven published 'Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World' which emphasizes the importance of small actions in making a big impact.

2018-05-31
Resignation as University of Texas Chancellor

On May 31, 2018, McRaven stepped down from his position as chancellor of the University of Texas due to health issues and a desire to spend more time with his family.

2018-11-18
Trump criticizes McRaven on Fox News

In November 2018, President Trump called McRaven a 'Hillary Clinton fan' and accused him of supporting former President Obama. McRaven clarified that he admires all presidents who uphold the dignity of the office.

2019-10-17
McRaven warns about the state of the Republic

On October 17, 2019, McRaven published an op-ed in The New York Times criticizing President Trump's leadership and stating that the Republic was under attack. He further elaborated on his concerns in a CNN interview the same day.

2020-12-10
William McRaven Becomes a Special Operator

On December 10, 2020, William McRaven became a Special Operator.

2021-09-05
McRaven featured on Fox News Sunday

William H. McRaven was featured by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday in the segment 'Power Player of the Week' on September 5, 2021, where he discussed remembering those who served in the military and embracing 'the hero code', which is the subject and title of his new book.

2022
Joining Palantir Technologies Board

In 2022, McRaven joined the board of Palantir Technologies, a significant move in his career.

2023-04-04
The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)

Admiral McRaven's book focusing on leadership and simplicity in a complex world.

2024-03
Courage and Civility Award

Admiral William McRaven was granted the $50-million Courage and Civility Award by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in recognition of his services to the community. The award aims to support educating the children of deceased veterans, improving the mental health of veterans, and educating future military leaders.

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William H. McRaven
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