Correll, a veteran submariner and former STRATCOM deputy, steps into the four-star role as U.S. nuclear, electronic warfare, and global strike demands intensify.
U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM)—the nation’s premier combatant command for nuclear deterrence, global strike, and missile warning—is set for a leadership change following the Senate’s confirmation of Vice Adm. Richard Correll. Approved by voice vote on Thursday, Correll will be promoted to four-star admiral as he assumes one of the most consequential posts in the U.S. military.
President Donald Trump nominated Correll for the position in September, and the veteran naval officer completed his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month. His elevation places him at the helm of a command critical to America’s nuclear security posture and increasingly central to U.S. global power projection.
A STRATCOM Veteran Returns to Lead
Correll is no stranger to STRATCOM. His previous assignments include serving as deputy commander and director of plans and policy (J5), key roles that shaped U.S. nuclear policy, integrated deterrence strategy, and long-range strike planning.
STRATCOM’s responsibilities extend far beyond nuclear weapons. The command oversees global strike operations—including conventional missions—such as June’s Operation Midnight Hammer, during which B-2 Spirit stealth bombers executed long-range precision attacks against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. More recently, STRATCOM units have been flying B-52 bombers near Latin America amid heightened military presence in the region and escalating tensions with Venezuela.
Correll now inherits oversight of nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3), missile threat assessments, and the strategic bomber fleet—missions that have grown more complex amid rapid modernization by China and Russia.



