Adm. William McRaven, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, is set to become the next chancellor of the University of Texas system.
University of Texas System regents on Tuesday selected McRaven as the lone finalist for the job overseeing the system’s 15 campuses and $14 billion budget, according to the Navy Times.
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“I thank the regents for their trust and confidence in my leadership, and I look forward to this extraordinary responsibility with enthusiasm and pride,” McRaven said in a statement released by the board.
With nine academic and six health campuses, the Texas system has more than 215,000 students, about 90,000 employees. The chancellor’s duties include representing the system in legislative matters, advocating higher education causes and raising money.
McRaven, who had previously announced his plans to retire in late August after 37 years in the military, would come to the chancellor’s job with no professional academic experience. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and earned a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.
