# Leadership of the United States Africa Command

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

## Current headquarters staff

* Michael E. Langley, Commander
** John W. Brennan, Deputy Commander
*** Matthew Trollinger, Chief of Staff
**** Rose P. Keravuori, Director, Intelligence (J2)
**** Claude K. Tudor, Director, Operations/Cyber (J3)
***** Timothy E. Brennan, Deputy Director, Operations/Cyber (J3/6)
***** Fridrik Fridriksson, Deputy Director, Operations/Cyber (J3/6)
**** George E. Bresnihan, Director, Logistics (J4)
**** Kenneth Ekman, Director, Strategy, Engagement, and Programs (J5)
***** Jon E. Solem, Deputy Director, Plans and Strategic Integration (J5)
***** Peter Bailey, Deputy Director, Strategy, Engagement, and Programs (J5)
**** Jesse A. Philipps, Director, C4 Systems (J6) and Chief Information Officer

## List of commanders of the United States Africa Command

| No. | Commander | Commander | Term | Term | Term | Service branch |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | Service branch |
| 1 | | Ward, William E.General William E. Ward (born 1949) | 1 October 2007 | 9 March 2011 | 3 years, 159 days | U.S. Army |
| 2 | | Ham, Carter F.General Carter F. Ham (born 1952) | 9 March 2011 | 5 April 2013 | 2 years, 27 days | U.S. Army |
| 3 | | Rodriguez, David M.General David M. Rodriguez (born 1954) | 5 April 2013 | 18 July 2016 | 3 years, 104 days | U.S. Army |
| 4 | | Waldhauser, Thomas D.General Thomas D. Waldhauser (born 1953) | 18 July 2016 | 26 July 2019 | 3 years, 8 days | U.S. Marine Corps |
| 5 | | Townsend, Stephen J.General Stephen J. Townsend (born 1959) | 26 July 2019 | 9 August 2022 | 3 years, 14 days | U.S. Army |
| 6 | | Langley, Michael E.General Michael Langley (born 1961/1962) | 9 August 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 125 days | U.S. Marine Corps |
Commanders of U.S. Africa Command by branch of service
* Army: 4
* Marine Corps: 2
* Air Force: none
* Navy: none
* Space Force: none
* Coast Guard: none

## List of deputy commanders of the United States Africa Command

| No. | Deputy Commander | Deputy Commander | Term | Term | Term | Service branch |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | Service branch |
| 1 | | Vice Admiral Robert T. Moeller (1951–2011) | 10 October 2007 | 12 April 2010 | 2 years, 184 days | U.S. Navy |
| 2 | | Vice Admiral Charles J. Leidig (born 1955) | August 2010 | June 2013 | ~2 years, 304 days | U.S. Navy |
| 3 | | Lieutenant General Steven A. Hummer (born 1952) | June 2013 | ~June 2015 | ~2 years, 21 days | U.S. Marine Corps |
| 4 | | Vice Admiral Michael T. Franken (born 1957) | ~22 June 2015 | ~2 August 2017 | ~2 years, 41 days | U.S. Navy |
| 5 | | Lieutenant General James C. Vechery (born 1966) | ~2 August 2017 | ~4 August 2020 | ~3 years, 2 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 6 | | Lieutenant General Kirk W. Smith | ~4 August 2020 | 3 April 2024 | ~3 years, 243 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 7 | | Lieutenant General John W. Brennan | 3 April 2024 | Incumbent | 253 days | U.S. Army |

## List of senior enlisted leaders of the United States Africa Command

| No. | Senior enlisted leader | Senior enlisted leader | Term | Term | Term | Service branch |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | Service branch |
| 1 | | Command Sergeant Major Mark S. Ripka | 1 November 2007 | 11 March 2011 | 3 years, 130 days | U.S. Army |
| 2 | | Chief Master Sergeant Jack Johnson Jr. | 11 March 2011 | July 2013 | ~2 years, 112 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 3 | | Command Sergeant Major Darrin J. Bohn | July 2013 | 27 September 2016 | ~3 years, 88 days | U.S. Army |
| 4 | | Chief Master Sergeant Ramón Colón-López (born 1971) | 27 September 2016 | November 2019 | ~3 years, 35 days | U.S. Air Force |
| - | | Command Master Chief Ryan P. Burton Acting | November 2019 | 28 February 2020 | ~119 days | U.S. Navy |
| 5 | | Sergeant Major Richard D. Thresher | 28 February 2020 | 1 May 2023 | 3 years, 62 days | U.S. Marine Corps |
| 6 | | Sergeant Major Michael P. Woods | 1 May 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 225 days | U.S. Marine Corps |

## List of chiefs of staff of the United States Africa Command

| No. | Chief of Staff | Chief of Staff | Term | Term | Term | Service branch |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | Service branch |
| 1 | | Major General Michael A. Snodgrass | 1 October 2007 | 7 October 2010 | 3 years, 6 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 2 | | Major General Richard J. Sherlock Jr. | 7 October 2010 | 1 June 2011 | 237 days | U.S. Army |
| 3 | | Major General H. D. Polumbo Jr. | 1 June 2011 | 23 March 2012 | 296 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 4 | | Major General O.G. Mannon | 23 March 2012 | February 2014 | ~1 year, 315 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 5 | | Major General Michael J. Kingsley | February 2014 | June 2016 | ~2 years, 121 days | U.S. Air Force |
| 6 | | Major General Roger L. Cloutier | June 2016 | July 2018 | ~2 years, 30 days | U.S. Army |
| 7 | | Major General Todd B. McCaffrey | July 2018 | June 2020 | ~1 year, 336 days | U.S. Army |
| 8 | | Major General William K. Gayler | July 2020 | ~21 June 2021 | ~355 days | U.S. Army |
| 9 | | Major General Joel K. Tyler | 21 June 2021 | 9 June 2023 | 1 year, 353 days | U.S. Army |
| 10 | | Major General David J. Francis | 9 June 2023 | 1 July 2024 | 1 year, 22 days | U.S. Army |
| 11 | | Major General Matthew Trollinger | 1 July 2024 | Incumbent | 164 days | U.S. Marine Corps |