Leadership of the United States Central Command

Seal 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

• Charles B. Cooper II , Commander
  • Vacant, Deputy Commander
    • Richard A. Harrison , Chief of Staff ^[1]
      • Constantin E. Nicolet , Director, Intelligence (J2) ^[2]
      • Curtis R. Bass , Director, Operations (J3) ^[3]
        • David R. Lopez , Deputy Director, Operations ^[4]
      • Michael B. Siegl , Director, Logistics (J4) ^[5]
      • Adan G. Cruz , Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5) ^[6]
      • James D. Turinetti IV , Director, Cyber (J6) ^[7]
      • Steven J. deMilliano , Director, Exercises and Training (J7) ^[8]

List of leaders of the United States Central Command

Commanders

Commander of the United States Central Command
Emblem of the United States Central Command
Incumbent Admiral Charles B. Cooper II, USN since 8 August 2025
United States Department of Defense
Type	Unified combatant commander
Abbreviation	CDRUSCENTCOM [9]
Reports to	President of the United States Secretary of Defense
Seat	MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, U.S.
Nominator	Secretary of Defense
Appointer	The president with Senate advice and consent
Term length	2–3 years (approx.)
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C.   § 167
Formation	1 January 1983
First holder	Robert Kingston
Deputy	Deputy 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 1983	27 November 1985	2 years, 330 days	U.S. Army
2		Crist, George B.General George B. Crist (1931–2024)	27 November 1985	23 November 1988	2 years, 362 days	U.S. Marine Corps
3		Schwarzkopf, H. Norman Jr.General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. (1934–2012)	23 November 1988	9 August 1991	2 years, 259 days	U.S. Army
4		Hoar, Joseph P.General Joseph P. Hoar (1934–2022)	9 August 1991	5 August 1994	2 years, 361 days	U.S. Marine Corps
5		Peay, J. H. Binford IIIGeneral J. H. Binford Peay III (born 1940)	5 August 1994	13 August 1997	3 years, 8 days	U.S. Army
6		Zinni, AnthonyGeneral Anthony Zinni (born 1943)	13 August 1997	6 July 2000	2 years, 328 days	U.S. Marine Corps
7		Franks, TommyGeneral Tommy Franks (born 1945)	6 July 2000	7 July 2003	3 years, 1 day	U.S. Army
8		Abizaid, JohnGeneral John Abizaid (born 1951)	7 July 2003	16 March 2007	3 years, 252 days	U.S. Army
9		Fallon, William J.Admiral William J. Fallon (born 1944)	16 March 2007	28 March 2008	1 year, 12 days	U.S. Navy
-		Dempsey, MartinLieutenant General Martin Dempsey (born 1952) Acting	28 March 2008	31 October 2008	217 days	U.S. Army
10		Petraeus, DavidGeneral David Petraeus (born 1952)	31 October 2008	30 June 2010	1 year, 242 days	U.S. Army
-		Allen, John R.Lieutenant General John R. Allen (born 1953) Acting	30 June 2010	11 August 2010	42 days	U.S. Marine Corps
11		Mattis, JimGeneral Jim Mattis (born 1950)	11 August 2010	22 March 2013	2 years, 223 days	U.S. Marine Corps
12		Austin, LloydGeneral Lloyd Austin (born 1953)	22 March 2013	30 March 2016	3 years, 8 days	U.S. Army
13		Votel, JosephGeneral Joseph Votel (born 1958)	30 March 2016	28 March 2019	2 years, 363 days	U.S. Army
14		McKenzie, Kenneth F. Jr.General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. (born 1957)	28 March 2019	1 April 2022	3 years, 4 days	U.S. Marine Corps
15		Kurilla, MichaelGeneral Michael Kurilla (born 1966)	1 April 2022	8 August 2025	3 years, 129 days	U.S. Army
16		Cooper, Charles B.Admiral Charles B. Cooper II (born 1967)	8 August 2025	Incumbent	23 days	U.S. Navy

Deputy commanders

No.	Deputy Commander		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Major General Robert C. Taylor	1 January 1983	August 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 1988	1991	~2 years, 242 days	U.S. Air Force
4		Major General James R. Ellis Jr. (born 1937)	1991	July 1992	~1 year, 15 days	U.S. Army
5		Major General Waldo D. Freeman	July 1992	August 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 1996	13 August 1997	~328 days	U.S. Marine Corps
8		Lieutenant General Thomas R. Case (born 1946)	13 August 1997	October 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 2000	October 2003	~3 years, 34 days	U.S. Marine Corps
11		Lieutenant General Lance L. Smith (born 1946)	October 2003	November 2005	~2 years, 31 days	U.S. Air Force
12		Vice Admiral David C. Nichols (born 1950)	November 2005	August 2007	~1 year, 273 days	U.S. Navy
13		Dempsey, MartinLieutenant General Martin Dempsey (born 1952)	August 2007	23 March 2008	221 days	U.S. Army
14		Allen, John R.Lieutenant General John R. Allen (born 1953)	15 July 2008	18 July 2011	3 years, 3 days	U.S. Marine Corps
15		Fox, Mark I.Vice Admiral Robert Harward (born 1956)	18 July 2011	October 2013	~2 years, 78 days	U.S. Navy
16		Fox, Mark I.Vice Admiral Mark I. Fox (born 1956)	October 2013	April 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 2018	21 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 2022	5 February 2024	~1 year, 199 days	U.S. Air Force
21		Cooper, Charles B.Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II (born 1967)	12 February 2024	8 August 2025	1 year, 177 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 2004	12 April 2007	~3 years, 56 days	U.S. Air Force
10		Sergeant Major Jeffrey A. Morin	12 April 2007	December 2008	~1 year, 247 days	U.S. Marine Corps
11		Hill, Marvin L.Command Sergeant Major Marvin L. Hill	December 2008	August 2010	~1 year, 243 days	U.S. Army
12		Grippe, Frank A.Command Sergeant Major Frank A. Grippe	3 January 2011	July 2014	~3 years, 193 days	U.S. Army
13		Greca, Christopher K.Command Sergeant Major Christopher K. Greca	July 2014	July 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 2022	Incumbent	~3 years, 50 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 1988	June 1990	~1 year, 226 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Major General R. Steven Whitcomb (born 1948)	19 January 2003	7 July 2004	1 year, 170 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General John G. Castellaw	7 July 2004	15 September 2005	1 year, 70 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Major General Lloyd Austin (born 1953)	15 September 2005	27 October 2006	~1 year, 42 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Timothy F. Ghormley	27 October 2006	July 2007	~1 year, 303 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Major General Thomas L. Moore Jr.	July 2007	1 July 2008	~352 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Major General Jay W. Hood	1 July 2008	6 August 2010	2 years, 36 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Michael D. Jones	6 August 2010	18 July 2011	346 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Karl R. Horst	18 July 2011	August 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 2019	October 2020	~1 year, 54 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Patrick Frank	October 2020	June 2022	~1 year, 243 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General David S. Doyle	~11 July 2022	6 June 2023	~330 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Brandon R. Tegtmeier	~6 June 2023	~June 2025	~1 year, 360 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Richard A. Harrison	~June 2025	Incumbent	~91 days	U.S. Army

See also

• United States Central Command
• Leadership of the United States Africa Command
• Leadership of the United States European Command
• Leadership of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
• Leadership of the United States Northern Command
• Leadership of the United States Space Command
• Leadership of the United States Cyber Command
• Leadership of the United States Strategic Command
• Leadership of the United States Transportation Command

References

1. "Major General Richard A. Harrison - General Officer Management Office".
2. "Major General Constantine E. Nicolet - General Officer Management Office".
3. "Major General Curtis R. Bass".
4. https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3054411/david-r-lopez/
5. "Brigadier General Michael B. Siegl - General Officer Management Office".
6. "Rear Admiral Adan G. Cruz".
7. "Major General James D. Turinetti IV - General Officer Management Office".
8. "National Guard Biography".
9. "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.