On the recordMarch 26, 2019
I rise today to honor GEN Joseph L. Votel, of the U.S. Army and the Commander of United States Central Command. General Votel is one of our Nation's finest military officers, and he will retire from Active military duty on May 1, 2019, bringing to a close 39 years of distinguished service to our great Nation. In 1980, General Votel was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He commanded units at every echelon, from platoon to theater, with duty in Germany, Italy, Sarajevo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United States. As a young officer, General Votel deployed with 75th Ranger Regiment in support of Operation Just Cause. He later commanded the 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia. General Votel commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment and led them on deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Later he served as deputy commanding general of the 82d Airborne Division in Operation Enduring Freedom. As a general officer, he served in the Pentagon as the Director of the Army and Joint IED Defeat Task Force and subsequently as the Deputy Director of the Joint IED Defeat Organization established under the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He served as the Deputy Commanding General and then Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command headquartered at Fort Bragg, NC. He also served as the Commanding General of U.S.…
