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About

General Joe Votel

General Votel is a retired U.S. Army four-star general officer, with nearly four decades of distinguished service. He is recognized as a global leader in both the national security enterprise and the private sector, driven by an unwavering commitment to national security and public service.

He’s well-versed in a broad spectrum of domains, covering special operations, counterterrorism, human rights, geopolitical shifts, emerging threats, and the extensive ramifications of global events on business operations.

My military experience taught me that resilience is not simply enduring hardship; it's the ability to adapt, recover, and emerge stronger. It's about finding strength in unity, maintaining a clear sense of purpose and deep trust, and never losing hope. Resilience is not just a personal trait; it's a collective force that can sustain organizations through crisis, uncertainty and disruption.

— General Joe Votel

During his military career, General Votel confronted complex and uncertain situations. Leveraging his crisis management proficiency, he provides invaluable insights on decision-making under pressure and maintaning a sense of calm in challenging situations.

General Votel’s insights extend to geopolitical trends, emerging threats, and the impact of global events on business operations, positioning him as a valuable resource for discussions on global affairs. He places a strong emphasis on ethical leadership, trust, and values-based decision-making as essential elements for sustained business success.

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Portfolio of Accomplishments and Contributions

  • Three Defense Distinguished Service Medals
  • Three Defense Superior Service Medals
  • Two Legion of Merit Medals
  • Four Bronze Star Medals
  • Master Parachutist Badge with Two Bronze Service Stars
  • Ranger Tab
  • Combat Infantryman Badge (2d Award)
  • Distinguished Military Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council
  • U.S. – Arab Defense Leadership Award from the National Council on U.S. – Arab Relations
  • Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
  • SGT James T. Regan Lifetime Achievement Award from the “Lead the Way” Foundation
  • Freedom Award from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
  • Sierra Nevada Corporation
    Strategic Advisor to the CEO on issues related to activities in the Middle East and Special Operations Forces.
  • Middle East Institute
    Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow focused on improving understanding of security issues across the Middle East and promoting relationships between the United States and its partners in the region.
  • Noblis Corporation
    Board Trustee with specific service on the HR and Compensation, Audit and Risk Committees.
  • Minnesota Wire Company
    Board Director with specific service advising the CEO on planning, strategy, and governance.
  • DC Capital Partners
    Board member with specific focus on Cyber Defense (Owl Cyber Defense), Physical Security Technology (DFT Technologies) and Digital Night Vision Technology (SiOnyx).
  • Insight Partners
    Government Advisory Board Member with specific focus on software applications for national security.
  • Combating Terrorism Center (CTC)
    At US Military Academy, West Point, Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center with specific focus on advising the Director, promoting programs, assisting in administration of the Wayne A Downing Scholarship Program, and teaching and inspiring Cadets.
  • Helix Decision Science
    Board member for a start-up artificial intelligence company.
  • Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL)
    Member of the Executive Board with specific responsibility to advise and share military expertise and experience on multiple topics related to Ethics and Rule of Law.
  • Freedom House
    Board Trustee with specific responsibility to advise and share military expertise and experience on multiple topics related to democratic values, human rights, and freedom of speech.
  • Defense Business Board
    Board member with specific responsibility assisting in Deputy Secretary of Defense specified project work on Business Transformation topics.
  • Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation
    Board member with responsibility to help plan, fund and build a monument on the National Mall to honor those who served in the GWOT.
  • Spirit of America
    Advisory Board member with the responsibility to advise the CEO on a variety of topic areas.
  • Cumulative Civilian Harm
    Advisory Board member with the responsibility to advise members of a multi-discipline project team on a variety of study efforts around the mitigation of civilian harm as a result of military operations.
  • Council on Foreign Relations
    Member
  • United States Military Academy, Class of 1980
  • Master’s degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College
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General Votel's Bio

General Joseph L. Votel is a retired U.S. Army Four-Star officer and the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command – responsible for U.S. and coalition military operations in the Middle East, Levant and Central and South Asia. During his 39 years in the military, he commanded special operations and conventional military forces at every level. His career included combat in Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Notably, he led a 79-member coalition that successfully liberated Iraq and Syria from the Islamic State Caliphate. He preceded his assignment at CENTCOM with service as the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command.

Following his retirement from military service, General Votel served as the President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS). He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Noblis Corporation and a Strategic Advisor for Sierra Nevada Corporation. Votel is a Board Director with Minnesota Wire, DC Capital Partners, Helix Decision Science, and a member of the Government Advisory Board for Insight Partners. He is a non-resident Distinguished Fellow at the Middle East Institute and the Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

General Votel is a member of the Executive Boards at Freedom House and the UPenn Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL). He is a current member of the Defense Business Board and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Votel was recognized with the Distinguished Military Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, the U.S. – Arab Defense Leadership Award from the National Council on U.S. – Arab Relations, the Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the SGT James T. Regan Lifetime Achievement Award from the “Lead the Way” Foundation and the Freedom Award from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

Votel is a 1980 graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned master’s degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College. He is married to Michele; and they have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

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If you’re organizing a corporate event, leadership summit, an exclusive roundtable engagement, or any gathering where inspiration and leadership take center stage, General Joe Votel is the perfect choice to enhance your event.

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