U.S.Central Command (CENTCOM) is one of 10 combatant commands in the United States military. Six of these commands, including CENTCOM, have an area of responsibility (AOR), a specific geographic region of the world where the combatant commanders may plan and conduct operations as defined under the Unified Command Plan.

Located between the European and Pacific combatant commands, U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility covers the "central" area of the globe and consists of 20 countries -- Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, SaudiArabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

There are also 62 coalition countries contributing to the war against terrorism.

Mission:
With national and international partners, U.S. Central Command promotes cooperation among nations, responds to crises, and deters or defeats state and nonstate aggression, and supports development and, when necessary, reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, and prosperity.

Leadership:
General James N. Mattis, Commander
Vice Admiral Robert S. Harward, Deputy Commander
Major General Karl R. Horst, Chief of Staff
Command Sergeant Major Frank A. Grippe
Read more about these leaders

Commander's Posture Statement: 
Before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 6, 2012, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command commander, said the following: “In over 30 years of supporting U.S. forces in the Central Command area of responsibility (AOR), I have never witnessed it so tumultuous. Change is the only constant and surprise continues to be the dominant force in the region. Across the AOR at large, both opportunities and challenges exist.”
Read more of the CENTCOM commander's posture statement

History:
U.S. Central Command was established January 1, 1983. When the hostage crisis in Iran and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan underlined the need to strengthen U.S. interests in the region, President Jimmy Carter established the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) in March 1980. To provide a stronger, more lasting solution in the region, President Ronald Reagan took steps to transform the RDJTF into a permanent unified command over a two-year period. The first step was to make the RDJTF independent of U.S. Readiness Command, followed by the activation of USCENTCOM in January 1983.
Read more about CENTCOM’s history and about the future of the U.S. Central Command headquarters building on MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

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