The Pentagon on Wednesday announced President Donald Trump’s nominations for leadership changes across three U.S. combatant commands: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper has been nominated to lead CENTCOM, replacing Army Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, who is scheduled to retire after serving more than three years in the role.
Cooper currently serves as deputy commander of CENTCOM. If confirmed, he would become only the second Navy admiral to lead the command since its creation in 1983.
Cooper is a surface warfare officer with operational experience on guided-missile cruisers, destroyers, aircraft carriers, and amphibious assault ships. He commanded a destroyer and a cruiser and later served in senior positions at the White House and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
As commander of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet from 2021 to 2024, Cooper established the Navy’s first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force and oversaw operations countering Iranian and Houthi activity. His responsibilities included leading Operation Prosperity Guardian and Poseidon Archer in the Red Sea.
President Trump also nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson to lead AFRICOM. Anderson would be the first Air Force officer to command the organization since its formation in 2007. Marine Gen. Michael E. Langley has led the command since August 2022.
Anderson currently serves as the director for joint force development under the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2019 to 2021, he led U.S. Special Operations Command-Africa (SOC-Africa), including during Operation Octave Quartz, which oversaw the repositioning of U.S. forces from Somalia in 2020–2021. The operation involved more than 13,000 personnel, an amphibious ready group, a carrier strike group, and a major airlift, according to AFRICOM.
AFRICOM is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Since its creation, it has been led by Army or Marine Corps generals. While three sailors and one airman have served as deputy commanders, no Air Force officer has held the top post. Anderson’s appointment comes after reports earlier this year that the Pentagon was reviewing a potential merger of AFRICOM with U.S. European Command.
Trump also nominated Navy Vice Adm. Frank Bradley to lead SOCOM. Bradley is currently commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). A Navy SEAL and former gymnast, he was among the first deployed to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. He has served multiple tours across SOCOM and on the Joint Staff.
SOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and oversees global U.S. special operations missions.
All three nominations still require Senate confirmation.
