DULUTH, Minn. -- In addition to honoring current and former military veterans at each of their many home events this weekend, the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs will welcome retired U.S. Army Four-Star officer General Joseph L. Votel to campus as an honored guest.

General Votel will speak to the UMD football team on Friday ahead of the team's "Battle for the Bone" Military Night match-up against St. Cloud State University. Most recently, Votel served as the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, responsible for U.S. and coalition military operations in the Middle East, Levant, and Central and South Asia. He served in the military for 39 years, commanding special operations and conventional military forces at every level, including combat in Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The General received recognition as the recipient of the Distinguished Military Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, the Distinguished Service Award from the National Medal of Honor Society, the Sgt. James T. Regan Lifetime Achievement Award from the "Lead the Way Foundation," and the Freedom Award from the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. 

Since July of 2019, the 1980 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy has served as the President/CEO of Business Executives for National Security. He has earned Master's Degrees from both the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College. He and his wife Michele reside in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Votel will be available to speak with the media at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Friday afternoon at Malosky Stadium. He will make appearances during the football game broadcasts with Jeff Papas on 102.5 The DUKE FM as well as with Tom Hansen on the My9 Sports Network.

On Friday, Sept. 20 at 4:30 p.m. in Montague Hall on the UMD campus, the Bulldog football program will unveil its uniquely branded helmets for Saturday's game, featuring photographs of military veterans submitted by families.

Additionally, free food will be provided in any UMD dining hall on Friday for any military member, past or present, or first responder with proper identification. Current and former military members will receive free admission to Saturday's volleyball and football games, along with discounted $5 admission to family members of military members by visiting umdbulldogs.com/onevoice and using promo code "USA."

On Saturday, the Budweiser Bus, NCAA Bus, and Operation One Voice will be on hand as UMD welcomes military veterans to a free tailgate outside Malosky Stadium ahead of the night's 6 p.m. kick-off.

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