This week marks a change in leadership for U.S. Central Command.
After nearly 39 years, Gen. Joseph Votel will retire and hand over command. He's led the fight to defeat ISIS and other violent extremist organizations and oversees the world's most dangerous region.
CENTCOM's area of responsibility includes 20 countries from Egypt to Pakistan. Roughly 4,000 people serve in U.S. Central Command.
As Gen. Votel retires, so too does the Command Sergeant Major who has served by his side for more than eight years. CSM Bill Thetford will retire with 37 years, 11 months, 2 weeks of active duty service in the Army.
The pair has served as a command team at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command.
Before Thursday's change of command and retirement, Gen. Votel and CSM Thetford spoke with 10News Anchor Courtney Robinson. They talked about the conflicts in Syria, women in special operations, a troop drawdown and President Donald Trump's plan for reconciliation in Afghanistan.
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