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.
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.
William H. McRaven graduated from the University of Texas, Austin with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism in 1977. He later joined Navy ROTC.
After six months of training, McRaven graduated with BUD/S class 95 in January 1978.
In 1980, William McRaven earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
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.
During the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91, McRaven served as a task unit commander in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
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.
McRaven authored the book 'Spec Ops' which is considered a key text in the field of special operations strategy, published in multiple languages.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Admiral McRaven briefed President Obama in the Oval Office alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Faris in 2009.
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.
Admiral McRaven led the operation where Seal Team Six carried out a successful mission to eliminate Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
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.
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.
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.
In 2012, Foreign Policy magazine named William H. McRaven one of the nation's Top 10 Foreign Policy Experts.
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.
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.
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.
In 2016, Admiral McRaven was named the recipient of the Ambassador Richard M. Helms Award by the Central Intelligence Agency Officers Memorial Foundation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On December 10, 2020, William McRaven became a Special Operator.
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.
In 2022, McRaven joined the board of Palantir Technologies, a significant move in his career.
Admiral McRaven's book focusing on leadership and simplicity in a complex world.
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.