William McRaven: The Tactical Genius Behind the Bin Laden Raid

William McRaven is celebrated as one of the most distinguished individuals in the history of the US Navy SEALs. As a four-star admiral, he played a key role in the operation that ultimately brought down Osama bin Laden. He ended his military career in 2014, leaving behind a major and lasting legacy.

William McRaven's upbringing

William McRaven's path to a military career seemed destined from the beginning. Born in Pinehurst, North Carolina, he spent his formative years there while his father, Claude, served at Pope Army Airfield . His father, a World War II -era Spitfire pilot who also briefly played in the NFL, likely influenced his career choice.

During his elementary school years, McRaven moved to Texas. He actively participated in track and field, and he later joined the Navy ROTC program. In 1977, he graduated from college with a Bachelor's Degree in journalism.

McRaven's early military career

McRaven began his military journey right after graduating from college, eagerly signing up for US Navy SEAL training. He successfully navigated the challenging program and secured a position in the elite unit after a six-month probationary period.

In the early 1980s, he was assigned to Dam Neck, Virginia, where he served under Richard Marcinko, the founding commander of SEAL Team 6. Their working relationship was tense, resulting in McRaven's dismissal. Marcinko later commented, "He was a bright guy, but he didn't like my rude and crude way. If I was a loose cannon, he was too rigid. He took the 'special' out of special warfare."

Despite this setback, McRaven's career flourished. He rose through the ranks and served as a task unit commander during the Persian Gulf War . Additionally, McRaven furthered his education by earning a Master of Arts degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1993.

Broken in half

While McRaven was well on his way to a storied military career, it almost didn't happen. He told NPR in 2019 about a '01 training exercise where he was nearly killed after being hit in the air by another parachutist.

"I kind of tumble through the parachute. But I’m stunned," he said. "I’m not exactly sure what’s happened. I don’t know whether I’ve been knocked unconscious. I don’t know whether I’ve been dazed. And now I’m tumbling out of control towards the ground.”

He continued, "Because I was tumbling, the pilot chute came out and wrapped around one leg, and then another part of the parachute called the riser came out and wrapped around my other leg. So now I am tangled up in my parachute, falling towards the ground. The good news is, as I fell a couple hundred feet or a thousand feet or so, the parachute finally opened. The bad news is, when a parachute opens, it blossoms."

The accident resulted in a broken pelvis for McRaven. A few months later, 9/11 happened. At this time, he was still recovering from his injuries.

Operation Neptune Spear

In 2011, McRaven was leading the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command and held the rank of vice admiral in the US Navy . He was summoned to CIA Director Leon Panetta's office to discuss Osama bin Laden. Panetta informed him that the agency had pinpointed bin Laden's compound and assigned McRaven the task of orchestrating an operation to eliminate him. Known for his expertise in planning and executing covert operations, McRaven was given full control of the operation by Panetta.

McRaven's strategy proved effective, and bin Laden was eliminated by SEAL Team 6 on May 2, 2011. The admiral was praised for the success of his plan and was a finalist for Time 's Person of the Year due to the operation.

McRaven formally retired in 2014

On September 1, 2014, McRaven formally retired from the military, after years of being a Bull Frog - the longest-serving Navy SEAL still on duty. Following his service, he became the Chancellor at his alma matter, the University of Texas. While retired, McRaven has remained busy, having written several books and occasionally appearing on cable news programs.

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He was in the running to become Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense, but the position was eventually given to Lloyd Austin III.