Leadership of the United States Central Command

This is a list of all commanders, deputy commanders, senior enlisted leaders, and chiefs of staff of the United States Central Command.

Current combatant command staff

  • Michael Kurilla, Commander
    • Charles B. Cooper II, Deputy Commander
      • Brandon R. Tegtmeier, Chief of Staff[1]
        • Nicholas M. Homan, Director, Intelligence (J2)[2]
        • Curt Renshaw, Director, Operations (J3)[3]
          • John P. Cogbill, Deputy Director, Operations Fires and Effects[4]
          • David R. Lopez, Deputy Director, Operations[5]
        • Michael B. Siegl, Director, Logistics (J4)[6]
        • Sean M. Salene, Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5)[7]
          • Nicholas R. Tilbrook, Deputy Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy[8]
        • James D. Turinetti IV, Director, Cyber (J6)[9]
        • Steven J. deMilliano, Director, Exercises and Training (J7)[10]

List of leaders of the United States Central Command

Commanders

Commander of the United States Central Command
Emblem of the United States Central Command
since 1 April 2022
United States Department of Defense
TypeUnified combatant commander
AbbreviationCDRUSCENTCOM[11]
Reports toPresident of the United States
Secretary of Defense
SeatMacDill Air Force Base, Florida, U.S.
NominatorSecretary of Defense
AppointerThe president
with Senate advice and consent
Term length2–3 years
(approx.)
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 167
Formation1 January 1983
First holderRobert Kingston
DeputyDeputy Commander, United States Central Command
No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Kingston, RobertGeneral
Robert Kingston
(1928–2007)
1 January 198327 November 19852 years, 330 days
U.S. Army
2
Crist, George B.General
George B. Crist
(1931–2024)
27 November 198523 November 19882 years, 362 days
U.S. Marine Corps
3
Schwarzkopf, H. Norman Jr.General
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
(1934–2012)
23 November 19889 August 19912 years, 259 days
U.S. Army
4
Hoar, Joseph P.General
Joseph P. Hoar
(1934–2022)
9 August 19915 August 19942 years, 361 days
U.S. Marine Corps
5
Peay, J. H. Binford IIIGeneral
J. H. Binford Peay III
(born 1940)
5 August 199413 August 19973 years, 8 days
U.S. Army
6
Zinni, AnthonyGeneral
Anthony Zinni
(born 1943)
13 August 19976 July 20002 years, 328 days
U.S. Marine Corps
7
Franks, TommyGeneral
Tommy Franks
(born 1945)
6 July 20007 July 20033 years, 1 day
U.S. Army
8
Abizaid, JohnGeneral
John Abizaid
(born 1951)
7 July 200316 March 20073 years, 252 days
U.S. Army
9
Fallon, William J.Admiral
William J. Fallon
(born 1944)
16 March 200728 March 20081 year, 12 days
U.S. Navy
-
Dempsey, MartinLieutenant General
Martin Dempsey
(born 1952)
Acting
28 March 200831 October 2008217 days
U.S. Army
10
Petraeus, DavidGeneral
David Petraeus
(born 1952)
31 October 200830 June 20101 year, 242 days
U.S. Army
-
Allen, John R.Lieutenant General
John R. Allen
(born 1953)
Acting
30 June 201011 August 201042 days
U.S. Marine Corps
11
Mattis, JimGeneral
Jim Mattis
(born 1950)
11 August 201022 March 20132 years, 223 days
U.S. Marine Corps
12
Austin, LloydGeneral
Lloyd Austin
(born 1953)
22 March 201330 March 20163 years, 8 days
U.S. Army
13
Votel, JosephGeneral
Joseph Votel
(born 1958)
30 March 201628 March 20192 years, 363 days
U.S. Army
14
McKenzie, Kenneth F. Jr.General
Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
(born 1957)
28 March 20191 April 20223 years, 4 days
U.S. Marine Corps
15
Kurilla, MichaelGeneral
Michael Kurilla
(born 1966)
1 April 2022Incumbent3 years, 96 days
U.S. Army

Deputy commanders

No. Deputy Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Major General
Robert C. Taylor
1 January 1983August 1984~1 year, 227 days
U.S. Air Force
2
Major General
Davis C. Rohr
(born 1929)
August 1984~1 June 1987~2 years, 290 days
U.S. Air Force
3
Major General
Craven C. Rogers Jr.
(1934–2016)
~31 October 19881991~2 years, 242 days
U.S. Air Force
4
Major General
James R. Ellis Jr.
(born 1937)
1991July 1992~1 year, 15 days
U.S. Army
5
Major General
Waldo D. Freeman
July 1992August 1994~2 years, 31 days
U.S. Army
6
Lieutenant General
Richard I. Neal
(1942–2022)
August 1994~19 September 1996~2 years, 35 days
U.S. Marine Corps
7
Lieutenant General
Anthony Zinni
(born 1943)
~19 September 199613 August 1997~328 days
U.S. Marine Corps
8
Lieutenant General
Thomas R. Case
(born 1946)
13 August 1997October 1998~1 year, 63 days
U.S. Air Force
9
Lieutenant General
Mike Dodson
October 1998~8 September 2000~1 year, 329 days
U.S. Army
10
Lieutenant General
Michael P. DeLong
(1945–2018)
11 September 2000October 2003~3 years, 34 days
U.S. Marine Corps
11
Lieutenant General
Lance L. Smith
(born 1946)
October 2003November 2005~2 years, 31 days
U.S. Air Force
12
Vice Admiral
David C. Nichols
(born 1950)
November 2005August 2007~1 year, 273 days
U.S. Navy
13
Dempsey, MartinLieutenant General
Martin Dempsey
(born 1952)
August 200723 March 2008221 days
U.S. Army
14
Allen, John R.Lieutenant General
John R. Allen
(born 1953)
15 July 200818 July 20113 years, 3 days
U.S. Marine Corps
15
Fox, Mark I.Vice Admiral
Robert Harward
(born 1956)
18 July 2011October 2013~2 years, 78 days
U.S. Navy
16
Fox, Mark I.Vice Admiral
Mark I. Fox
(born 1956)
October 2013April 2016~2 years, 183 days
U.S. Navy
17
Brown, Charles Q. Jr.Lieutenant General
Charles Q. Brown Jr.
(born 1962)
~22 July 2016~26 July 2018~2 years, 4 days
U.S. Air Force
18
Bergeson, Thomas W.Lieutenant General
Thomas W. Bergeson
(born 1962)
~27 August 201821 September 2020~2 years, 25 days
U.S. Air Force
19
Malloy, James J.Vice Admiral
James J. Malloy
(born 1963)
21 September 2020~21 July 2022~1 year, 303 days
U.S. Navy
20
Guillot, Gregory M.Lieutenant General
Gregory Guillot
~21 July 20225 February 2024~1 year, 199 days
U.S. Air Force
21
Cooper, Charles B.Vice Admiral
Charles B. Cooper II
(born 1967)
12 February 2024Incumbent1 year, 144 days
U.S. Navy

Senior enlisted leaders

No. Senior enlisted leader Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
9
Command Master Sergeant
Curtis L. Brownhill
February 200412 April 2007~3 years, 56 days
U.S. Air Force
10
Sergeant Major
Jeffrey A. Morin
12 April 2007December 2008~1 year, 247 days
U.S. Marine Corps
11
Hill, Marvin L.Command Sergeant Major
Marvin L. Hill
December 2008August 2010~1 year, 243 days
U.S. Army
12
Grippe, Frank A.Command Sergeant Major
Frank A. Grippe
3 January 2011July 2014~3 years, 193 days
U.S. Army
13
Greca, Christopher K.Command Sergeant Major
Christopher K. Greca
July 2014July 2016~2 years
U.S. Army
14
Thetford, William F.Command Sergeant Major
William F. Thetford
~29 August 2016~29 July 2019~2 years, 334 days
U.S. Army
15
Herdel, JamesFleet Master Chief
James Herdel
~29 July 2019~12 July 2022~2 years, 348 days
U.S. Navy
16
Walters, Derrick A.Fleet Master Chief
Derrick A. Walters
~12 July 2022Incumbent~2 years, 359 days
U.S. Navy

Chiefs of staff

No. Chief of Staff Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
-
Major General
Harry D. Penzler
(1934–2020)
~1986~1 November 1988~2 years, 124 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Joseph P. Hoar
(1934–2022)
~1 November 1988June 1990~1 year, 226 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
Major General
R. Steven Whitcomb
(born 1948)
19 January 20037 July 20041 year, 170 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
John G. Castellaw
7 July 200415 September 20051 year, 70 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
Major General
Lloyd Austin
(born 1953)
15 September 200527 October 2006~1 year, 42 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Timothy F. Ghormley
27 October 2006July 2007~1 year, 303 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
Major General
Thomas L. Moore Jr.
July 20071 July 2008~352 days
U.S. Marine Corps
-
Major General
Jay W. Hood
1 July 20086 August 20102 years, 36 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Michael D. Jones
6 August 201018 July 2011346 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Karl R. Horst
18 July 2011August 2013~2 years, 28 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Michael X. Garrett
(born 1961)
August 2013~29 August 2016~3 years, 14 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Terry R. Ferrell
(born 1962)
~29 August 2016~11 September 2018~2 years, 13 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Michael Kurilla
(born 1966)
~11 September 2018~22 August 2019~345 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Scott McKean
(born 1968)
~22 August 2019October 2020~1 year, 54 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Patrick Frank
October 2020June 2022~1 year, 243 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
David S. Doyle
~11 July 20226 June 2023~330 days
U.S. Army
-
Major General
Brandon R. Tegtmeier
~6 June 2023Incumbent~2 years, 30 days
U.S. Army

See also

References

  1. ^ "Major General Brandon R. Tegtmeier - General Officer Management Office".
  2. ^ "Rear Admiral Nicholas Homan".
  3. ^ "Rear Admiral Curt Renshaw".
  4. ^ "Brigadier General John P. Cogbill - General Officer Management Office".
  5. ^ https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3054411/david-r-lopez/
  6. ^ "Brigadier General Michael B. Siegl - General Officer Management Office".
  7. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-salene-687b4968/
  8. ^ "Rear Admiral Nicholas R. Tilbrook".
  9. ^ "Major General James D. Turinetti IV - General Officer Management Office".
  10. ^ "National Guard Biography".
  11. ^ "DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, January 2021" (PDF). jcs.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2021.