The United States Senate has confirmed Air Force General Dagvin R M Anderson as the incoming commander of United States Africa Command, known as Africom, in a move that breaks new ground for the organisation. This marks the first occasion an officer from the Air Force has been chosen to lead the combatant command responsible for American military operations across the African continent. The confirmation came through a voice vote on 31 July, following his nomination by President Donald J Trump on 28 April, with the Department of Defence making the official announcement on 4 June. Anderson will take over from the current commander, Marine Corps General Michael E Langley, who has held the position as Africom’s sixth leader and will continue in the role until the formal change of command ceremony, anticipated to take place at the command’s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Anderson outlined his vision for the role, emphasising his commitment to directing American armed forces under the guidance of the Secretary of Defence and with presidential approval. He stressed the importance of maintaining forces that are prepared and positioned to carry out national defence tasks, handle unexpected military situations, and prevent conflicts from escalating. This approach aligns with his extensive background, which has equipped him to address the complex security landscape in Africa.
At present, Anderson serves as the Director for Joint Force Development on the Joint Staff, where he has played a key part in developing the operational ideas that will guide the American military in the years ahead. His prior command of Special Operations Command Africa, or SOCAFRICA, from 2019 to 2021, provided him with direct exposure to the region’s challenges and opportunities. During that period, he gained a thorough grasp of how warfare is evolving and the adjustments needed in the joint force to counter emerging dangers, particularly from nations like China. This experience has shaped his perspective on threats to American homeland security, interests, and personnel, as well as the potential for advancing United States objectives across Africa.
The appointment holds particular meaning for African military leaders in land, air, and naval forces who have developed strong professional connections with Africom’s command structure over the years, starting with predecessors such as Army General Stephen J Townsend and then General Langley. Anderson’s return to Africom in this elevated capacity demonstrates a deliberate effort to maintain continuity in leadership amid an unpredictable security setting. It also echoes the Trump administration’s emphasis on achieving peace through strength, applied specifically to Africa, conveying that American military engagements are consistent and supported by sustained high-level involvement and strategic coherence.
As the first Air Force officer to command Africom—where all previous leaders hailed from the Army or Marine Corps—Anderson brings a distinct viewpoint focused on unified operations that blend air power, cyber capabilities, and special operations. This is especially relevant as terrorist groups and cross-border threats adapt and spread throughout the continent. His background could enhance collaborations in air defence, intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance activities, and logistics that span regions, reflecting the Pentagon’s increasing focus on operations across multiple domains in Africa’s expansive and varied environment.
Alongside the confirmation, Anderson has received a promotion from lieutenant general to the full four-star rank of general, a distinction held by only a select few in the American military. According to data from the Congressional Research Service, just 37 officers across all branches occupied four-star positions as of 2023. These roles include the most critical commands, such as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chiefs of the individual services, and commanders of combatant organisations like Africom. The process for such promotions is stringent, governed by Title 10 of the United States Code, which requires presidential nomination and Senate approval for positions deemed vital and demanding. In Anderson’s instance, this falls under Chapter 6 of the code, which authorises the President, through the Secretary of Defence—in this case, Pete Hegseth—to establish, manage, and modify combatant commands. It also stipulates that these commanders report directly to the Secretary and the President, highlighting the strategic weight and alignment with broader national defence goals.
Anderson’s expertise in special operations adds further depth to his selection. While leading SOCAFRICA, he directed initiatives to combat groups like al-Shabaab, ISIS, and Boko Haram, while building up the abilities of partner nations and promoting solutions driven by African entities. This hands-on involvement supports the current American approach of fostering efficient, locally led strategies, notably in areas like the Horn of Africa. Now, armed with four-star authority, he can translate these practical lessons into overarching strategies for the entire theatre.
Leaders in African politics and militaries, who have engaged with Africom via joint exercises, defence discussions, and training efforts, are paying close attention to this shift. Anderson’s familiarity underscores the United States’ dependability and desire to retain accumulated knowledge rather than starting afresh with each leadership change. From a diplomatic standpoint, it reinforces trust and credibility in military relations, which is essential at a moment when, as American officials note, competitors such as China and Russia are actively working to erode Western presence on the continent. With Africom’s expanding involvement in fighting terrorism, securing sea lanes, and stopping cross-border crimes, steady leadership goes beyond mere symbolism to become a practical necessity.
Anderson’s career includes several notable commands, such as heading the 19th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field in Florida, the 58th Operations Group at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, and the 58th Special Operations Wing at the same location. His time in Stuttgart is not new; from June 2019 to July 2021, he commanded SOCAFRICA, which operates under Africom’s oversight from Kelley Barracks. He described this stint as offering valuable insights into both risks and prospects in Africa during his nomination hearing in July.
That period faced severe tests, including the January 2020 assault by al-Shabaab on the American facility at Manda Bay in Kenya, where a determined and equipped group of fighters killed one United States soldier and two contractors. A subsequent Pentagon review identified shortcomings, including lax leadership and control at the ground level, insufficient oversight higher up, flawed evaluations of threats, unprepared security teams, and lapses in command as the site evolved from a training outpost to a counterterrorism hub with air operations.
Later that year, in October, special operations personnel under his purview transported Navy SEAL Team 6 from Spain to northern Nigeria for a rescue mission. They successfully freed 27-year-old American citizen Philip Walton, who had been abducted in nearby Niger, eliminating six of the seven kidnappers without losses on their side.
Towards the end of the initial Trump term, Anderson also oversaw Joint Task Force-Quartz, which involved relocating over 13,000 American troops from Somalia to other East African nations on short notice, as described by then-Africom commander General Stephen Townsend.
When questioned by Senator Jack Reed, the leading Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, about maintaining troops in Somalia, Anderson pointed to modest achievements in training local forces, praising the Somali Danab Brigade as an effective counterterrorism unit. On the topic of Somaliland, where the Pentagon seeks stronger ties, he expressed openness to engagement in the area, whether with the central government or regional entities, pending further evaluation if confirmed.
Amid worries over Trump’s tariffs and reductions in aid affecting Africa, Anderson indicated he would seek innovative methods to strengthen ties with partners. He noted that groups like the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and al-Shabaab are shifting to uncontrolled areas in the Sahel and Somalia, still aiming to strike American targets. A major worry, he added, is securing adequate resources and connections to track these developments.
One critical partner is Niger, from which American forces withdrew last year after a coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, leading to the closure of the air base in Agadez. Anderson acknowledged the instability on the continent that complicates long-term commitments but suggested that decades-old military relationships in Niger persist, potentially opening doors for future cooperation when conditions allow.
