Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.

Kenneth Franklin McKenzie Jr. (born 1956 or 1957) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 14th commander of the United States Central Command from March 28, 2019, to April 1, 2022. He served as Director of the Joint Staff from July 5, 2017, after having previously served for two years as Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff.

In May 2022, he became the executive director of the Global and National Security Institute, University of South Florida, and in July 2022, he was appointed executive director for the Florida Center for Cybersecurity. He also serves as the President, Board of Directors, of the Institute for Applied Engineering, University of South Florida. On July 1, 2026, he became President of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Early life and education A native of Birmingham, Alabama, McKenzie was commissioned in 1979, via the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at The Citadel. McKenzie holds an advanced degree from The Citadel Graduate College and is an honors graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College as well as the School of Advanced Warfighting.

Military career As an infantry officer, McKenzie's assignments have included command of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, and of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which he led on deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as Military Secretary to two Commandants of the Marine Corps.

McKenzie's general officer posts have included deputy director of Operations for the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon. In 2008, he was selected by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to serve as director of his new administration transition team, overseeing the transition of military forces under incoming President Barack Obama. He returned to Afghanistan serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Stability under the International Security Assistance Force, followed by a tour as Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy at United States Central Command. He then returned to the Pentagon to serve as the Marine Corps Representative to the Quadrennial Defense Review and, after receiving his third star, was appointed Commanding General of United States Marine Forces Central Command.

Gen. McKenzie at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the 2021 Fall of Kabul As CENTCOM commander, McKenzie oversaw the successful high-profile special forces raid in Syria to kill or capture then-Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019, and the 2020–2021 withdrawals and reductions of U.S. troops from Iraq.

During the 2020–2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, McKenzie replaced General Austin "Scott" Miller as leader of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan upon the latter's resignation on July 12, 2021, with Miller's departure perceived by some as "the symbolic end of the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan." One month later, McKenzie was responsible for the August 2021 Kabul drone strike which targeted 10 civilians, 7 of whom were children. He later acknowledged the strike was a "mistake" and stated, “I offer my sincere apology” during a press briefing.

McKenzie retired from active duty on 1 April 2022, after relinquishing command of CENTCOM to General Michael Kurilla.

On 23 March 2026, it was announced General McKenzie would become the 21st President of his alma mater, The Citadel.

Awards and decorations

General McKenzie earned several awards of the Rifle Expert Badge as well as the Pistol Sharpshooter Badge. 60px 60px

Effective dates of promotion