Anthony (Tony) J. Cotton

Anthony is a retired U.S. Air Force four-star general. He last served as commander of the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, Nebraska, where he oversaw 41,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardians and civilians operating globally in strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, missile threat assessment, and other critical operations to secure the nation’s safety. 

The son of an Air Force chief master sergeant, Anthony hails from Dudley, North Carolina. He earned a political science degree from North Carolina State University and then a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. 

During his nearly 40 years in the military, Anthony earned numerous service medals and commanded at the squadron, group, wing, numbered Air Force and major command levels. Prior to commanding STRATCOM, he served as the commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In addition, Anthony served as president of Air University in Montgomery, Alabama.