Rear Admiral William H. McRaven assumed command of Special Operations
Command Europe (SOCEUR) on June 26, 2006. Prior to assuming
command, Rear Adm. McRaven was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General
for Operations at Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Rear Adm. McRaven served extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan in support
of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Rear Adm. McRaven has commanded at every level within the special
operations community, including assignments as the 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 Desert
Storm and Desert Shield, Squadron Commander at Naval
Special Warfare Development Group, and SEAL Platoon Commander at
Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team 4.
Rear Adm. McRaven’s extensive interagency and policy experience
includes an assignment to the Office of Combating Terrorism on the
National Security Council (NSC) at the White House. While at the NSC, he
helped draft the National Security Strategy, the National Strategy for
Combating Terrorism, and the US Hostage Policy.
Rear Adm. McRaven’s diverse staff and executive experience includes
assignments as the Assessment Director in the Special Operations
Resources and Requirements Directorate at US Special Operations Command,
on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, Chief Staff Officer at
Naval Special Warfare Group 1, Training Officer at Naval Special Warfare
Command, and Intelligence Officer at Naval Special Warfare Unit 1.
Rear Adm. McRaven’s professional education includes assignment to the
Naval Postgraduate School, where he helped establish and was the first
graduate from the Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict curriculum.
In addition to his duties as COMSOCEUR, Rear Adm. McRaven was designated
as the Director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination
Centre (NSCC) by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen Bantz J.
Craddock, on December 22, 2006. As the NSCC Director, Rear Adm.
McRaven is charged with enhancing the capabilities and inter-operability
of all NATO Special Operations Forces.
