Michael Langley

Michael Elliott Langley (born 1961/1962)^[1] is a United States Marine Corps general who has served as the commander of the United States Africa Command since 9 August 2022.^[2][3] He most recently served as commander of United States Marine Corps Forces Command, United States Marine Corps Forces Northern Command, and Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic from November 2021 to August 2022.^[4] He also served as deputy commander of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and before that as commander of United States Marine Forces Europe and Africa.^[5][6][7][8]

Michael Langley
Birth name	Michael Elliott Langley
Born	1961 or 1962 (age 62–63) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1985–present
Rank	General
Commands	United States Africa Command United States Marine Corps Forces Command Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic United States Marine Forces Europe and Africa 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star
Alma mater	University of Texas, Arlington (BBA) Naval War College (MS) United States Army War College (MS)

Langley is the first black four-star general in the United States Marine Corps, having been promoted to that rank on 6 August 2022.^[9][10][11]

Early life and education

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Langley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he majored in information systems analysis.^[7] Langley's father was a master sergeant in the United States Air Force, and as a child, Langley spent much of this time on racially diverse Air Force bases. He first experienced discrimination when his father retired from the military in the early 1970s and the family moved to a civilian neighborhood in Texas.^[6] His father, Willie C. Langley, retired when he was told he would be deployed overseas again, separating him from his children. He was the primary caregiver for his children after their mother's death.^[12]

Military career

Langley is promoted to general in a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington on August 6, 2022.

While attending college, Langley entered the Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) program in 1983,^[13] and was commissioned as an Artillery Officer in 1985 through Officer Candidates School. He commanded at every level from platoon to regiment – including Battery K, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines in support of Operation Wildfire in Western United States; battalion and regimental commands in 12th Marines forward deployed in Okinawa, Japan; and both the 201st Regional Corps Advisory Command-Central and Regional Support Command – Southwest in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

As a General Officer, Langley's command assignments include Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and Commanding General, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade; Commander, Marine Forces Europe and Africa; and Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Command and Marine Forces Northern Command.^[14]

Langley holds a master's degree in national security strategic studies from the Naval War College and a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.^[14]

Four-star general

In June 2022, Langley was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as commander of United States Africa Command. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate in August 2022, making him the first black four-star general in the 246-year history of the Marine Corps.^{[15][16][17][18][10]}

Awards and decorations

1st row	Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster			Legion of Merit with two gold award stars			Bronze Star Medal			Defense Meritorious Service Medal
2nd row	Meritorious Service Medal with award star			Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars			Joint Service Achievement Medal			Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
3rd row	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star			National Defense Service Medal with service star			Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal			Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
4th row	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal			Humanitarian Service Medal			Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and three bronze service stars			NATO Medal for ISAF
Badges	Marine Corps Rifle Sharpshooter Badge						Marine Corps Pistol Sharpshooter Badge
Badges	Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge						United States Africa Command Badge

References

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

1. Cooper, Helene (6 August 2022). "After 246 Years, Marine Corps Gives 4 Stars to a Black Officer". New York Times. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
2. "DVIDS Webcast - AFRICOM Change of Command". DVIDS. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
3. "U.S. Africa Command welcomes a new boss". AfrikPage. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
4. "Marine Forces in Hampton Roads welcome new commander next week". Wavy. Norfolk, Virginia. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
5. "Major General Michael E. Langley". U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
6. Vandiver, John (26 February 2021). "How an early promotion kept a young Black Marine on the path to become a general". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
7. Vandiver, John. "Langley takes over Marine mission in Europe, Africa following Neary's relief". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
8. Chavez, Larisa (23 May 2018). "2nd MEB Commanding General Promotion, Relinquishment". DVIDS. Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: II Marine Expeditionary Force.
9. "Gen. Michael Langley becomes the Marine Corps' first black four-star general". DVIDS. Washington, D. C. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
10. Jeong, Andrew (3 August 2022). "Michael E. Langley confirmed as first Black four-star Marine general". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
11. "Lt. Gen. Michael Langley confirmed for promotion to General". DVIDS. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
12. Chason, Rachel; Lamothe, Dan (20 July 2022). "After 246 years, Marines set for their first Black four-star general". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
13. South, Todd (9 September 2022). "Grit & drive: The story of the Marine Corps' 1st Black 4-star general". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
14. "Lieutenant General Michael E. Langley". U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
15. "PN2255 — Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley — Marine Corps". United States Congress. 8 June 2022.
16. Schmitt, Eric; Cooper, Helene (20 May 2022). "Pentagon Taps Next Commander of U.S. Forces in Africa". New York Times. Washington, D. C. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
17. Joyner, James (21 May 2022). "Michael Langley to be 1st Black Marine 4-Star General". Outside the Beltway. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
18. Diaz, Jaclyn (20 July 2022). "The Marines are set to have the first Black 4-star general in their 246-year history". NPR.

Military offices
Preceded by Stephen M. Neary	Commander of United States Marine Forces Europe and Africa 2020–2021	Succeeded by Tracy W. King
Preceded by Robert F. Hedelund	Commander of United States Marine Corps Forces Command 2021–2022	Succeeded by John Kelliher Acting
Preceded by Stephen J. Townsend	Commander of the United States Africa Command 2022–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Christopher G. Cavoli as Commander of U.S. European Command	Order of precedence of the United States as Commander of U.S. Africa Command	Succeeded by Bryan P. Fenton as Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command