Anthony Cotton
Birth nameAnthony James Cotton
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1986–present
RankGeneral
Commands held
Awards
Alma mater

Anthony James Cotton[1] is a United States Air Force four-star general who serves as the 12th commander of the United States Strategic Command since 9 December 2022. He most recently served as the commander of the Air 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 the Air University.[3][4][5][6]

Cotton is from Dudley, North Carolina, where he graduated from Southern Wayne High School in 1981. He is the son of James H. and Amy K. Cotton; his father was a chief master sergeant in the Air Force.[7] Anthony Cotton was commissioned through ROTC at North Carolina State University in 1986, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in political science.[7] Prior to his AFGSC service, Cotton commanded the 20th Air Force, served as deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, and was senior military assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.[8]

In June 2022, Cotton was nominated for reappointment as general and assignment as commander of the United States Strategic Command.[9][10][11] He appeared for a hearing before the Senate 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]

Awards and decorations

Gen Cotton (right) relieves ADM Charles A. Richard (second from left) as the commander of United States Strategic Command on 9 December 2022.
Command Space Operations Badge
Command Missile Operations Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Headquarters Air Force Badge
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
 Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Width-44 crimson ribbon with two width-8 white stripes at distance 4 from the edges. Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze 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)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service 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
Bronze star
 Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with service star
Air Force Training Ribbon

Effective dates of promotions

Cotton is pinned with his four-star rank insignia by his family at his promotion ceremony, August 27, 2021.
RankDate[2]
Second lieutenant7 June 1986
First lieutenant7 June 1988
Captain7 June 1990
Major1 March 1998
Lieutenant colonel1 March 2002
Colonel1 December 2006
Brigadier general10 November 2011
Major general6 July 2015
Lieutenant general15 February 2018
General27 August 2021

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

  1. ↑ "97th Annual Commencement" (PDF). North Carolina State University. 1986. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 "General Anthony J. Cotton". United States Air Force. August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ↑ Harper, Brad (12 December 2019). "Air University leader has been nominated for Air Global Strike Command position in Louisiana". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Ramsouer, Tammie (15 February 2018). "Lt. Gen. Cotton assumes command of Air University". Maxwell Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "PN741 – Lt. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton – Air Force, 117th Congress (2021–2022)". U.S. Congress. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Rachel (24 June 2021). "Cotton nominated to run Air Force's nuclear enterprise at pivotal time". Military Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. 1 2 Calkins, Christopher (30 August 2011). "Cotton: Stay sharp; Our mission demands it". 45th Space Wing Public Affairs, Air Force Space Command. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  8. ↑ Leishman, Angeline (28 June 2021). "Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton Nominated to Lead AF Global Strike Command". executivegov.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Nominee Says Strategic Command Must Deal With Changing World". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  10. 1 2 "PN2229 — Gen. Anthony J. Cotton — Air Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. 29 September 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "Nomination - Cotton". U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services. 15 September 2022. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  13. ↑ United States Strategic Command [@US_STRATCOM] (2 December 2022). "One week from today, @USNavy Admiral Charles A. Richard will relinquish command of #USSTRATCOM to @usairforce General Anthony J. Cotton" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ Garamone, Jim (9 December 2022). "Stratcom Gets New Leader". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
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