Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel takes JSOC command from Vice Adm. William McRaven

Army Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Votel on Friday replaced Navy Vice Adm. William H. McRaven as commander of Fort Bragg's Joint Special Operations Command.

The Ranger general replaced the SEAL admiral in a closed ceremony on Fort Bragg.

McRaven oversaw the raid in which Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan.

The three-star admiral had commanded JSOC since June 2008. Votel was chief of staff of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.

JSOC "ruthlessly and effectively (took) the fight to America's most dangerous and vicious enemies," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said several months ago when he announced his intention to recommend McRaven for promotion.

President Obama nominated McRaven to receive his fourth star and to command U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, the Pentagon announced April 6.

If confirmed by the Senate, McRaven would succeed Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, who has headed the four-star command in Tampa since 2007. Olson has not announced his plans, Ken McGraw, a spokesman in Tampa, said Friday.

McRaven would be the second Navy officer to lead the command that has 60,000 people and oversees Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine special operations forces. The Army has the largest number of people in the multiservice command, which has most often been lead by Army generals.

Votel graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1980 and began his career as a rifle platoon leader in the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany.

He commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga., and was the deputy commanding general for operations of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He has been JSOC's deputy commanding general.

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