General Joe Votel

Welcome back to Five Questions for a General, a production of the Modern War Institute at West Point. This series features specially selected cadet hosts who are given an incredible professional development opportunity—to sit down with senior military officers and ask carefully crafted questions about everything from leadership to their unique experiences while serving, to their expectations about the future of war.

In this episode, Cadet Zach Olson hosts retired General Joe Votel, who led such units as the 75th Ranger Regiment, the Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command, and US Central Command.

General Votel reflects on a career shaped by trust, adaptability, and disciplined leadership across the full spectrum of modern conflict. Drawing on experiences commanding both special operations and conventional forces, he discusses the enduring importance of decentralized decision-making, strong relationships, and transparent communication in complex, fast-moving environments. General Votel also explores how leaders should balance human judgment with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, the evolving role of special operations in great power competition, and the strategic challenges of regions such as the Middle East. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes patience, collaboration, professional curiosity, and commitment to the task at hand as timeless foundations for developing highly effective military leaders.