US Strategic Command getting new boss
U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees America’s nuclear arsenal, is getting a new commander following Thursday’s confirmation of Vice Adm. Richard Correll by the Senate.
Correll, who was approved by voice vote along with several other military nominees, will also be promoted to four-star.
President Donald Trump nominated him for the role in September, and his confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee was held last month.
Correll is not a newcomer to Stratcom, having previously served as deputy commander and as director of plans and policy (J5).
The combatant command is responsible for global strike, including conventional missions. It played a major role in Operation Midnight Hammer, which was conducted in June and included long-range B-2 stealth bomber attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities. More recently, units under Stratcom have been conducting B-52 bomber flights near Latin America amid a surge of U.S. military forces to the region and increasing tensions with Venezuela under the Trump administration.
The organization also oversees nuclear operations; nuclear command, control and communications; and missile threat assessment. It was depicted in the recently released fictional movie “A House of Dynamite” on Netflix.
Additionally, Stratcom has responsibility for joint electromagnetic spectrum ops, overseeing those efforts from the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center (JEC), which was created in 2023 to boost the readiness of the U.S. military within the electromagnetic spectrum and give it an edge over adversaries.
During his confirmation hearing in October with the Senate Armed Services Committee, Correll told lawmakers that the Defense Department still faces shortfalls in its electronic warfare enterprise.
“We’re not where we need to be, but we’re focused on it and making progress,” he said.
The new nuclear forces boss comes from the Navy’s submarine community. His command assignments have included command of USS Topeka (SSN 754), Submarine Squadron 11and Submarine Group 7. He also served at sea onboard the USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730), USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) and USS Buffalo (SSN 715), according to his Stratcom bio.
