President Donald Trump has nominated Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to become the next commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the military’s top post overseeing operations in the Middle East. If confirmed, Cooper would be only the second Navy admiral to lead the command since its establishment in 1983. The announcement came from the Pentagon on Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced that Trump has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to lead U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). If approved, Anderson would make history as the first Air Force officer to head the Africa-focused command, which was created in 2007.
Cooper currently serves as CENTCOM’s deputy commander and has deep experience in the region. He’s set to replace Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, who is preparing to retire after more than three years in the role. The leadership change comes as the Middle East remains volatile, with the Trump administration pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza after 20 months of war and continuing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
A 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Cooper previously commanded the Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain for nearly three years, overseeing operations in the Gulf and Red Sea. He took over as CENTCOM’s deputy in February 2024. During his 5th Fleet command, he led operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen and helped launch the Navy’s first unmanned and AI-driven task force. Cooper also played a central role in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a U.S.-led maritime coalition formed in 2023 to counter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
Throughout his naval career, Cooper has commanded various surface ships, including destroyers and cruisers. His background includes leadership roles with U.S. Naval Forces Korea and Naval Surface Force Atlantic. He also holds a master’s degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University.
CENTCOM, based in Tampa, Florida, oversees military activity in 21 countries across the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Africa. While it’s historically led by Army and Marine generals, Cooper would be the first Navy officer in the post since Adm. William Fallon in 2007, who resigned after a brief tenure due to political controversies.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Anderson brings extensive flight and operational experience to his nomination as head of AFRICOM. A command pilot, he has logged over 3,400 flight hours, including 738 in combat, in aircraft like the KC-135, C-130, and U-28A. He currently serves as director of joint force development for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Anderson has led special operations units at multiple levels and previously commanded U.S. Special Operations Command Africa from 2019 to 2021. He also managed the U.S. troop repositioning from Somalia. Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Anderson commissioned through the ROTC program at Washington University in St. Louis.
AFRICOM, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, coordinates U.S. military engagement across most of the African continent, focusing on counterterrorism, partnerships, and training local forces. Anderson would be the seventh person to lead AFRICOM, following four Army generals and two Marines.