AeroVironment, Inc. announced that General Joseph L. Votel recently joined its Board of Directors, following his appointment as a Class III director at a meeting of AeroVironment?s Board on November 29. The addition of General Votel brings the Board?s current composition to eight individuals, seven of whom (including Votel) are independent. General Votel retired from the U.S. Army in 2019, following a highly distinguished 39-year military career which culminated in his appointment as a four-star General and Commander of the U.S.Central Command (CENTCOM) where he led a 79-member coalition that liberated Iraq and Syria from the Islamic State.

Prior to his assignment at CENTCOM, he served as Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Following his retirement from military service, General Votel served as President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), remains a member of the Defense Business Board and Council on Foreign Relations, and has advised multiple companies and venture funds. General Votel graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1980 and earned master?s degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College.

He was recognized with numerous awards including the Distinguished Military Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, the U.S.-Arab Defense Leadership Award from the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, and the Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.