Anthony Cotton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1986–present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | Iran–Israel war |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | |
Cotton's opening statement at aSenate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Future Years Defense Program Recorded 9 March 2023 | |
Anthony James Cotton[1] is aUnited States Air Forcefour-star general who serves as the 12thcommander of the United States Strategic Command since 9 December 2022. He most recently served as the commander of theAir Force Global Strike Command from 27 August 2021 to 7 December 2022, having served as the deputy commander from 2019 to 2021.[2] Prior to that, he was the president of theAir University.[3][4][5][6]
Cotton is fromDudley, North Carolina, where he graduated fromSouthern Wayne High School in 1981. He is the son of James H. and Amy K. Cotton; his father was achief master sergeant in the Air Force.[7] Anthony Cotton was commissioned throughROTC atNorth Carolina State University in 1986, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in political science.[7] Prior to his AFGSC service, Cotton commanded the20th Air Force, served as deputy director of theNational Reconnaissance Office, and was senior military assistant to theunder secretary of defense for intelligence.[8]
In June 2022, Cotton was nominated for reappointment as general and assignment as commander of theUnited States Strategic Command.[9][10][11] He appeared for a hearing before theSenate Committee on Armed Services on 15 September 2022[12] and was confirmed by voice vote of the full Senate on 29 September 2022.[10] He assumed command on 9 December 2022.[13][14]
.jpg)
 | Command Space Operations Badge |
 | Command Missile Operations Badge |
 | Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge |
 | Headquarters Air Force Badge |
  | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronzeoak leaf cluster |
 | Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronzeoak leaf cluster |
 | Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster |
 | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
 | Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
 | Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |
 | Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster |
  | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters |
 | Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |
 | National Reconnaissance Office Distinguished Service Medal (gold medal) |
 | Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster |
  | National Defense Service Medal with one bronzeservice star |
 | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
 | Air and Space Campaign Medal |
  | Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" device |
 | Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters |
 | Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star |
 | Air Force Training Ribbon |
| Rank | Date[2] |
|---|---|
.svg) Second lieutenant | 7 June 1986 |
.svg) First lieutenant | 7 June 1988 |
.svg) Captain | 7 June 1990 |
.svg) Major | 1 March 1998 |
.svg) Lieutenant colonel | 1 March 2002 |
.svg) Colonel | 1 December 2006 |
.svg) Brigadier general | 10 November 2011 |
.svg) Major general | 6 July 2015 |
.svg) Lieutenant general | 15 February 2018 |
.svg) General | 27 August 2021 |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States government.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Media related toAnthony J. Cotton at Wikimedia Commons| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commander of the341st Missile Wing 2010–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the45th Space Wing 2011–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of theTwentieth Air Force 2015–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander and President of theAir University 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of theAir Force Global Strike Command 2021–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of the United States Strategic Command 2022–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Commander ofU.S. Special Operations Command | Order of precedence of the United States as Commander of U.S. Strategic Command | Succeeded byas Commander ofU.S. Space Command |
