Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Cotton takes command of USSTRATCOMPublished Dec. 13, 2022
                    
                    
                    U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs
            **OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) --**Air ForceGen. Anthony J. Cotton relieved Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard as commander of **U.S. Strategic Command**during a ceremony at**Offutt Air Force Base**Dec. 9. 
 Cotton becomes USSTRATCOM'seighth commander, highlighting the enduring stability of the nation's strategic enterprise during a time of increased global pressure and reliance on a safe, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent. 
 "A competition is underway among major powers to try to shape what comes next," Cotton said. "In this new phase of competition, we face two near-peer adversaries simultaneously. U.S. Strategic Command must be ready for the complex challenges to deterring adversary aggression and coercion." 
 As the new USSTRATCOM commander, Cotton takes responsibility for the nation's nuclear triad, including ballistic missile submarines, long-range strategic bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear command and control during a period of intense nuclear coercion and the unprecedented need to deter two near-peer nuclear adversaries at the same time. 
 "Everything we do is foundational to national and international security. It's not just our nation that is counting on us. It is also our allies and partners," Cotton said when discussing integrated deterrence. "**NATO**calls the strategic forces of the alliance, particularly those of the U.S. 'the supreme guarantee of the alliance's security,’ and we embrace that. We know what is riding on our shoulders." Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall awards Gen. Anthony J. Cotton with the Distinguished Service Medal for his time served as the global strike commander at the General Curtis E. LeMay Command and Control Facility, Omaha, Neb., Dec. 9, 2022. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall awards Gen. Anthony J. Cotton with the Distinguished Service Medal for his time served as the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command at the General Curtis E. LeMay Command and Control Facility in Omaha, Neb., Dec. 9, 2022. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks during the U.S. Strategic Command change of command ceremony, Omaha, Neb., Dec. 9, 2022. Cotton becomes USSTRATCOM's eighth commander, highlighting the enduring stability of the nation's strategic enterprise during a time of increased global pressure and reliance on a safe, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks during the U.S. Strategic Command change of command ceremony in Omaha, Neb., Dec. 9, 2022. Cotton becomes USSTRATCOM's eighth commander, highlighting the enduring stability of the nation's strategic enterprise during a time of increased global pressure and reliance on a safe, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    U.S. Strategic Command conducts change of commandU.S. Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard, outgoing commander of U.S. Strategic Command, salutes Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, incoming USSTRATCOM commander as Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin presides during the USSTRATCOM change of command ceremony in Omaha, Neb., Dec. 9, 2022. Cotton becomes USSTRATCOM's eighth commander, highlighting the enduring stability of the nation's strategic enterprise during a time of increased global pressure and reliance on a safe, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

Secretary of Defense**Lloyd J. Austin III**presided over the ceremony, and**he spoke about**the importance of strong deterrence to defend the nation and our allies and partners during increased global pressure, including Russia's war in Ukraine and China's continuing strategic breakout.43:45
    
    

    
    
    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presides over a U.S. Strategic Command change of command ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Dec. 9, 2022. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton assumed command from Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard. (Courtesy video)




"Today, STRATCOM faces new challenges. The U.S. is on the verge of a new phase. One where for the first time, we will face two major nuclear powers as strategic competitors," Austin said. "The People's Republic of China is expanding, and modernizing, and diversifying its nuclear forces. And Russia is also modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal." 
 Austin said that nuclear powers have a responsibility to avoid provocative behavior, lower the risk of escalation, and prevent escalation and nuclear war and that USSTRATCOM is the responsible custodian of America's nuclear arsenal. 
 As the outgoing commander, Richard expressed his gratitude to the more than 150,000 Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,**Guardians**, and Civilian personnel responsible for the success of USSTRATCOM's global deterrence mission. 
 "We deterred great power conflict and nuclear war during the worse conditions in the least60 years, but that didn't just happen. ... It's the people," Richard said. 
 He highlighted the accomplishments made by the command, including reporting China's strategic breakout, developing a deterrence dynamic paradigm, and inventing the nuclear command and control platforms Gryphon and Black Glass. 
 USSTRATCOM is a unique and special place that houses the last group of people who fully understand how to operationalize strategic deterrence, Richard said. 
 The ceremony capped a 41-year career for Richard, who led USSTRATCOM through the most stressful period of competition and potential crisis since the Cuban Missile Crisis, including China's strategic breakout, Russia's war in Ukraine, multiple North Korean missile launches, and the COVID pandemic. 
 Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffAdm. Christopher Grady, presented the command with the **Joint Meritorious Unit Award**and Richard with the**Defense Distinguished Service Medal**. After the ceremony, Cotton addressed the state of U.S. deterrence efforts and his vision for the future of USSTRATCOM. 
 "We are positioning a 21st-century command for the future, and what we are doing is vitally important." Cotton said. "We are again making it clear to any potential foe: the risks and costs of aggression far outweigh any conceivable gains."FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



STRATCOM 



U.S. Strategic Command 



Austin 



SecDEF 



defense secretary 



Cotton 



Gen. Anthony Cotton 



Senior Leaders 



nuclear triad 



deterrence 



National Defense Strategy 



Allies 



national security 



One Team One Fight 



AFGSC 



strategic enterprise 



global deterrence 



Offutt AFB 



NATO Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil