The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG), an alumni group serving the military academy, presented General Joseph Votel, member of the CERL Executive Board, with the 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA). The DGA, awarded to six recipients from a pool of 29 nominees, honors graduates of West Point “for their outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’” The award ceremony took place on May 20, 2025. 

General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.), is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Military Fellow at the Middle East Institute and a member of the CERL Executive Board. Read his bio here. 

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