Adm. William H. McRaven (Ret.)

Admiral William H. McRaven is a retired U.S. Navy Four-Star admiral and the former Chancellor of the University of Texas System. 

In the military he commanded special operations at every level, including combat during Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. Forces under his command were responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein, rescue of Captain Phillips and mission to get Osama bin Laden. His final assignment was commander of all U.S. special operation’s forces.

McRaven is a recognized national authority on U.S. foreign policy and has advised Presidents Bush and Obama, as well as other U.S. leaders. He currently serves as a senior advisor for Lazard Financial Advisory and on the boards of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the National Football Foundation, the International Crisis Group, The Mission Continues and ConocoPhillips.

McRaven graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism and received his master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. He is the author of six books, including SPEC OPS: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare and five New York Times Best Sellers: Make Your Bed, Sea Stories, The Hero Code, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog and a children’s book, Make Your Bed With Skipper the Seal. 

He met his wife, Georgeann, while they were students at UT Austin, and they have three grown children. McRaven stays active with his writing, speaking and board commitments.