Contents

Michael Langley

Michael Langley
Birth name	Michael Elliott Langley
Born	1961 or 1962 (age 61–62) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1985–present
Rank	General
Commands held	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)
Michael Langley's voice Langley's opening statement at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee to be commander of U.S. Africa Command Recorded 21 July 2022

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 August 9, 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]

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

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]

While attending college, Langley entered the Platoon Leader Class (PLC) program in 1983,^[13] and was commissioned as a second lieutenant 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]

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]}

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael E. Langley.

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