Commander - Vacant

This position is vacant.  General David Petraeus has been appointed to this position by the President and confirmed by the Senate of the United States.

Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey, Acting Commander

Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey assumed duties as the Acting Commander U.S. Central Command on March 28, 2008.

General Dempsey graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as an Armor Officer in June 1974.

His first duty assignment was in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, where he served as a Scout and Support Platoon Leader and Squadron Adjutant.  In January 1979, after completing the Armor Officer Advance Course, General Dempsey became the Motor Officer for 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, at Fort Carson, Colo.  Later, he commanded Alpha and Headquarters Troops, 1st Squadron, 10th Cav., as well as serving as the Squadron Operations Officer.

In August 1982, General Dempsey began studies at Duke University, earning a Master of Arts degree in English, and upon completion in 1984 was assigned to the English Department at West Point.  He performed duties as an instructor and later assistant professor in the department until the summer 1987, when he was assigned to Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he earned a master's degree in Military Art and Science.

In July 1988, General Dempsey reported to the 3rd Armored Division in Friedburg, Germany, where he served as the Executive Officer of 4th Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, and then became Operations Officer and later Executive Officer for 3rd Brigade, 3rd Armored Division, deploying in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  In July 1991, General Dempsey assumed Command of 4th Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division.

In summer 1993, after five years in Germany, General Dempsey was assigned as chief of the Armor Branch at U.S. Total Army Personnel Command.  He then continued his studies at the National War College in 1995, earning a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

In July 1996, General Dempsey returned to Fort Carson, Colo., taking command of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.  Following this assignment, he served as the assistant deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs Europe and Africa J5 and special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., from July 1998 through September 2001.

From September 2001 to June 2003, General Dempsey served as Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program, Saudi Arabia.  General Dempsey left Saudi Arabia in June 2003 to take Command of the 1st Armored Division and deployed in Iraq in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  After completing 14 months in Iraq, General Dempsey redeployed the division to Germany and completed his command tour in July 2005. 

In August 2005, General Dempsey returned to Iraq and assumed Command of Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq until summer 2007, when he departed for his next assignment as Deputy Commander of US CENTRAL COMMAND.  In August 2007 General Dempsey assumed the position of Deputy Commander, USCENTCOM, and remained there until moving into his current position.

General Dempsey’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with “V” Device, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

General Dempsey is married to the former Diane Sullivan and they have three children: Chris, Megan, and Caitlin, all of whom have served, and two of whom are still serving in the United States Army.

Major General John R. Allen, Deputy Commander Select

Major General John R. Allen performs the duties of the Deputy Commander, United States Central Command.

Following commissioning, he attended The Basic School and was assigned to Second Battalion, 8th Marines, where he served as a platoon and rifle company commander. His next tour took him to Marine Barracks at 8th and I, Washington, D.C., where he served at the Marine Corps Institute and as a ceremonial officer. Major General Allen then attended, and was the Distinguished Graduate of the Postgraduate Intelligence Program of the Defense Intelligence College. He would serve subsequently as the Marine Corps Fellow to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He was the first Marine Corps officer inducted as a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Returning to the Fleet Marine Force in 1985, he commanded rifle and weapons companies and served as the operations officer of Third Battalion, 4th Marines. During this period he received the Leftwich Leadership Trophy. In 1988, Major General Allen reported to the Naval Academy where he taught in the Political Science Department and also served as the Jump Officer and Jump Master of the Academy.  In 1990, he received the William P. Clements Award as military instructor of the year.

Major General Allen reported to The Basic School as director of the Infantry Officer Course from 1990-1992 and was subsequently selected as a Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow, serving as a special assistant on the staffs of the 30th Commandant and the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. In 1994, he served as Division G-3 Operations Officer for the Second Marine Division and subsequently assumed command of Second Battalion, 4th Marines; re-designated as Second Battalion, 6th Marines. This unit served with JTF 160 in Operation Sea Signal during Caribbean contingency operations in 1994, and as part of the Landing Force of the 6th Fleet in Operation Joint Endeavor during Balkans contingency operations in 1995-1996.

Following battalion command, Major General Allen reported as the Senior Aide de Camp to the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, ultimately serving as his Military Secretary. He commanded The Basic School from 1999 to 2001, when he was selected in April 2001 to return to the Naval Academy as the Deputy Commandant. Major General Allen became the 79th Commandant of Midshipmen in January 2002, the first Marine Corps officer to serve in this position at the Naval Academy.

Major General Allen's first tour as a General Officer was as the Principal Director, Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a position he occupied for nearly three years.  During this tour, he was the recipient of the Mongolian Meritorious Service Medal, First Class and the Taiwan Order of the Resplendent Banner with Special Cravat.

From 2006-2008, Major General Allen served as Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and Commanding General, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, deploying to Iraq for OIF 06-08, serving as the Deputy Commanding General of Multinational Force – West (MNF-W) and II MEF (Forward) in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

Major General Allen graduated with military honors from the Naval Academy with the Class of 1976, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Analysis. He is a 1998 Distinguished Graduate of the National War College. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Government from Georgetown University, a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. Personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars in lieu of four awards.

Major General Jay W. Hood, Chief of Staff

Major General Jay W. Hood assumed duties as the Chief of Staff, U.S. Central Command on July 1, 2008.

General Hood is a distinguished graduate of Pittsburg State University and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in 1975.

General Hood's military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Basic Airborne School, and the Jumpmaster School.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.

His first duty assignment was to the 1st Battalion, 75th Field Artillery, VII Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany where he served as a Fire Direction Officer and Executive Officer.

In July 1979, General Hood reported to the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as Fire Support Officer.  In February 1980 General Hood assumed Command of A Battery, 2d Battalion, 321st Field Artillery.  In October 1981, he reported to Vicenza, Italy, where he commanded Delta Battery, 1-509th Battalion Combat Team, U.S. Army and Southern European Task Force, Italy.

In summer 1984, after three years in Italy, General Hood was assigned as the Assistant Secretary of the General Staff, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.  He later served as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander in Chief, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army.

In June 1988, General Hood reported to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as the Executive Officer and Operations Officer of 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery.  He next served as the Division Artillery Operations Officer for the 82d Airborne Division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In February 1992, General Hood assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division and was later assigned as the 82nd Airborne Division Chief of Current Operations.

Upon graduation from the Naval War College in June 1995, General Hood reported to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida where he served as a Staff Officer and later as a Branch Chief, Plans and Policy Directorate, U.S. Central Command.

In June 1997, he returned to the 82nd Airborne Division where he commanded the Division Artillery and later served as the Division Chief of Staff.

In September 2001, General Hood assumed duties as the Chief of Staff, Operations, KFOR (Main), Film City, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

From August 2002 to March 2004, General Hood served as Assistant Division Commander (Forward), 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and Deputy Commanding General (South), First United States Army, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

From March 2004 to March 2006, he served as Commander Joint Task Force, Guantanamo, United States Southern Command, Cuba.

In August 2006, General Hood reported to Fort Meade, Maryland, where he served as Commanding General, First Army Division East.

On 1 July 2008, General Hood returned to U.S. Central Command and assumed his current duties Chief of Staff, U.S. Central Command.

General Hood's awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Master Parachutist Badge.

General Hood is married to the former Lynne Maladowitz of Mount Pleasant, S.C. They have two grown children, Jason and Katherine (Katie).

Sergeant Major Jeffrey A. Morin, Senior Enlisted Leader

Sergeant Major Jeffrey A. Morin assumed his current post as the Senior Enlisted Leader, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., on April 12, 2007. He is the principal advisor to the combatant commander on all matters concerning joint/combined force integration, utilization and sustainment for more than 230,000 U.S. and Coalition forces serving in the 27 countries that comprise the United States Central Command area of responsibility.

A native of Auburn, Maine, Sgt. Maj. Morin enlisted in the Marine Corps on Nov. 27, 1977. Throughout his career he has served with infantry, mechanized infantry, aviation, combat service support and headquarters service commands. He has also served time as a drill instructor and with the U.S. State Department.

He has participated in numerous Western Pacific deployments including three in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant Major Morin's senior enlister leader assignments were: Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif.; 1st Stinger Battery, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Headquarters Battalion 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. and U.S. Marine Forces Command, Norfolk Va.

His joint duty experience includes assignments as the command senior enlisted leader for the Marine Component to Joint Task Force, National Capital Region, US Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia; U.S. Marine Corps Europe, Stuttgart, Germany and U.S. Marine Corps South, Miami, Fla.

Sergeant Major Morin's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star and the Combat Action Ribbon.