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.
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 killed 10 civilians, 7 of whom were children. The main target of the strike, aid worker Zemerai Ahmadi, had been misidentified as an ISIS-Khorasan militant. McKenzie 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.https://today.citadel.edu/gen-frank-mckenzie-selected-as-21st-president-of-the-citadel/
Awards and decorations
1st rowDefense Distinguished Service Medal2nd rowNavy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clustersLegion of Merit with two gold award starsBronze Star Medal3rd rowDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with two award starsNavy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalCombat Action Ribbon4th rowJoint Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf clusterNavy Unit CommendationNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starKosovo Campaign Medal with service star5th rowAfghanistan Campaign Medal with two service starsIraq Campaign Medal with service starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service Medal6th rowHumanitarian Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four service starsNavy Arctic Service RibbonNATO Medal for Kosovo with service starBadgeOffice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification BadgeBadgeUnited States Central Command Badge General McKenzie earned several awards of the Rifle Expert Badge as well as the Pistol Sharpshooter Badge.
Effective dates of promotion
+ Promotions Insignia Rank DateSecond Lieutenant June 8, 1979First Lieutenant June 1, 1981Captain February 1, 1985Major Sept 1, 1989 Lieutenant Colonel Oct 5, 1995Colonel Oct 8, 2001Brigadier General July 1, 2007Major General March 5, 2011Lieutenant General June 3, 2014General March 15, 2019
References
External links
U.S. Central Command Biography