Centcom: Socom head to take the helm

Army General Joseph Votel has been named by secretary of defence Ashton Carter as the administration’s nominee to succeed General Lloyd Austin as head of US Central Command (Centcom). Votel’s appointment requires Senate approval. Since mid-2014 he has been in charge of the Special Operations Command (Socom) as it has ramped up its operations against Islamic State. “His experience in the Middle East region will serve him well,” Carter said on 14 January.