General Dagvin R.M. Anderson
Commander, U.S. Africa Command
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson was born in 1970. He is a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan. He earned an undergraduate degree from Washington University and participated in the Air Force ROTC program. He earned a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
After pilot training, Anderson served in the 91st Air Refueling Squadron and became an instructor, evaluator, and chief pilot. He served as operations chief of the 8th Special Operations Squadron and then aide-de-camp to the U.S. Special Operations Command commander. He held many Air Force command positions before serving in staff and joint assignments, including Vice Director of Operations on the Joint Staff, Commander of Special Operations Command-Africa, Deputy Director for Operations at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, Special Assistant to the Commander and Director of the Commander’s Strategic Initiative Group for United Nations Command-Combined Forces Command-U.S. Forces Korea.
Anderson was nominated by President Donald Trump as Commander of U.S. Africa Command. He was confirmed, and he assumed command in August 2025.
Anderson has more than 3,400 flight hours, including 738 combat hours.
In the News…
General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month regarding the status of Africa on the world stage.
General Anderson said, “Africa sits at the crossroads of global commerce and security, bridging the strategic terrain between the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific. It’s the world’s supplier of critical minerals for advanced defense systems, and home to 12 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies.”
General Anderson continued, “The epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa. ISIS leadership is African; al-Qaida’s economic engine is in Africa — both of these groups share the will and intent to strike our homeland.“
General Anderson noted that ISIS and al-Qaida’s affiliates are now showing increased connectivity. He also highlighted the drawdown of allies in the region, which has reduced intelligence information for his command.
