MOGADISHU, Somalia – The U.S. Senate has confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson as the next commander of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), marking the first time an Air Force officer will lead the combatant command since its creation in 2007.
Anderson’s confirmation came on July 31 following a unanimous Senate vote. He will be promoted to the rank of four-star general and succeed Marine Gen. Michael Langley, who has held the post since August 2022.
AFRICOM, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, oversees U.S. military operations across the African continent, excluding Egypt. Anderson’s appointment represents a shift in the leadership tradition of the command, which has previously been led exclusively by Army and Marine generals.
Anderson brings extensive regional and operational experience to the role. He previously served as the commander of Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) from 2019 to 2021, and most recently held the position of director for joint force development on the Joint Staff.
However, his confirmation comes as the Pentagon continues to assess AFRICOM’s future posture amid evolving security challenges on the continent, including threats posed by violent extremist organizations and growing strategic competition from Russia and China.
