Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a sweeping set of military leadership nominations on Thursday, marking one of the most extensive reshufflings of top brass since the Trump administration returned to power earlier this year.
The nominations, which require Senate confirmation, include new leadership for U.S. Strategic Command, Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, among more than a dozen other high-ranking positions across all service branches.
Strategic Command Gets New Leadership
Navy Vice Adm. Richard A. Correll, who currently serves as deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, has been tapped to lead the organization responsible for America’s nuclear arsenal. “The President has made the following nominations,” Hegseth stated in the announcement, elevating Correll to the rank of admiral as he takes the helm at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
In another significant move, Navy Vice Adm. George M. Wikoff is set to become commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples. Wikoff will be promoted to admiral from his current role commanding U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, where he’s overseen operations in one of the world’s most contentious maritime regions.
The cyber domain will see new leadership as well, with Rear Adm. Heidi K. Berg nominated for vice admiral and assignment as commander of Fleet Cyber Command, Tenth Fleet, and Navy Space Command in Maryland. Berg currently serves as deputy commander of these same commands.
Marine Corps and Army Special Ops Changes
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Bradford J. Gering has been nominated for promotion to general and assignment as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps at the Pentagon. Gering currently serves as deputy commandant for Aviation, a position that will be filled by Marine Corps Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, who has been nominated for lieutenant general.
The nominations come at a time when Hegseth has been actively implementing organizational changes throughout the Department of Defense. Just yesterday, President Trump issued an executive order to change the Department of Defense’s name back to the Department of War, a move Hegseth will help implement as part of what the administration calls a “warrior ethos” campaign.
What’s behind these changes? Many observers see them as part of the administration’s broader effort to reshape military culture. During a recent speech at an Army Officer Candidate School graduation at Fort Benning, Hegseth emphasized a return to a “warrior culture” and criticized what he called “wokeness” in the military, as captured in his remarks.
Space Force Gaining Prominence
The still-young U.S. Space Force figures prominently in the nominations, with four Space Force generals receiving new assignments. Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Jr., currently commander of Space Operations Command, has been nominated to serve as deputy chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements at the Pentagon.
Space Force Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon, meanwhile, is being nominated for lieutenant general and will take command of U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. He currently serves as deputy chief of Space Operations for Intelligence.
“Hegseth also signed a memorandum to reduce the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce, aiming to eliminate duplicative efforts and excessive bureaucracy,” a Defense Department spokesperson confirmed when asked about broader changes accompanying the nominations.
Intelligence Community Leadership
The nominations also reach into the intelligence community. Army Lt. Gen. Michele H. Bredenkamp has been nominated to maintain her current rank while taking on a new role as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. She currently serves as the director’s advisor for Military Affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, currently commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, has been nominated to lead Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, maintaining his current rank.
Several major generals across the services have also been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general, including Army Maj. Gen. Winston P. Brooks, who will serve as deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Belgium, and Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Clearfield, who will command U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Tampa, Florida.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to hold confirmation hearings in the coming weeks, though the exact timeline remains unclear. These nominations represent one of the most significant military leadership transitions since Hegseth took office in early 2025.
For a Pentagon—or perhaps soon, a Department of War—still adjusting to new civilian leadership, these nominations signal the administration’s determination to place its stamp on military culture and priorities for years to come.
