Trump taps new commanders for Middle East, Africa posts

President Donald Trump has nominated Vice Admiral Brad Cooper to lead U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), making him only the second Navy officer ever selected for the top military role overseeing the Middle East, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

Trump also named Air Force Lieutenant General Dagvin Anderson as the next commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). If confirmed, Anderson would become the first Air Force general to lead the command since its establishment in 2007.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the nominations, describing both men as experienced leaders well-equipped to guide U.S. operations in two strategically significant and often volatile regions.

Vice Admiral Cooper currently serves as the deputy commander of CENTCOM and has extensive operational experience in the Middle East. A 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he previously led the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain for nearly three years before assuming his current post in February 2024. He also led U.S. Naval Forces Korea and commanded Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

If confirmed, Cooper would succeed Army General Erik Kurilla, who is expected to retire after more than three years in the role. CENTCOM oversees U.S. military operations across 21 countries in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and parts of Northeast Africa. The command has played a central role in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and more recently, efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict and nuclear tensions with Iran.

During his command of the 5th Fleet, Cooper spearheaded the Navy’s first unmanned and AI-based task force and led operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen. He also oversaw U.S. naval efforts in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational mission launched in late 2023 to defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Lieutenant General Anderson, a veteran pilot with more than 3,400 flight hours—including 738 in combat—currently serves as the director of joint force development on the Joint Staff. His aircraft experience includes the KC-135 tanker, C-130 transport, and U-28A surveillance planes, primarily used in special operations.

Anderson has commanded a special operations squadron, a wing, and led the repositioning of U.S. troops from Somalia. He also previously led U.S. Special Operations Command Africa from 2019 to 2021.

AFRICOM, the newest of the Pentagon’s geographic commands, covers most of the African continent and focuses on counterterrorism efforts, training local forces, and promoting regional stability. Anderson would be the seventh commander of AFRICOM, following four Army generals and two Marines.

The nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.