Commander of U.S. Africa Command visits U.S. Naval War College
U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), spoke at the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) on Oct. 13, 2026, as part of the institution’s Perspectives on Modern War lecture series.
Anderson told students, faculty and staff gathered in the Spruance Hall auditorium about USAFRICOM efforts to work alongside partners to counter terrorism, as well as the importance of economic investment, innovation and protection of critical minerals on the continent.
“Africa sits at the crossroads of the world,” Anderson said. “It connects the Atlantic and the Pacific, through the Indian Ocean. It has seven critical chokepoints that go around it – all critical to maritime commerce – and it’s growing rapidly.”
While at the war college, Anderson also met with NWC President Rear Adm. Darryl Walker and a smaller group of U.S. and international students with ties to the USAFRICOM area of responsibility.
Anderson is a command pilot with more than 3,400 flight hours, including 738 combat hours, across 16 different aircraft, including the KC-135R Stratotanker, MC-130E Combat Talon I and U-28A Draco.
Before taking command of USAFRICOM in August 2025, Anderson served as the Director for Joint Force Development for the Joint Staff.
He has commanded at five different echelons, including serving as commander of Special Operations Command-Africa and Joint Task Force-Quartz, overseeing the repositioning of U.S. forces from Somalia in 2020-2021.
“Africa has the fastest growing population and fastest growing economy of all the continents on Earth, and is positioned on several critical maritime chokepoints from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Bab-al-Mandab,” said Walker. “It’s critical that U.S. forces and our partners work together to strengthen security and maintain stability there.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to hear from this experienced and accomplished leader about how his team is operating and innovating to counter threats, strengthen military capabilities and respond to any crisis on the continent,” he continued. “I want to thank Gen. Anderson for taking the time to share his insights with the next wave of commanders and warfighters here.”
In the war college’s Perspectives on Modern War course, students take lessons from their core curriculum and apply them to emerging challenges in the international security environment. Content from senior guest lectures – such as Anderson – is merged with insights from annual symposia, seminars, reading assignments, and wargaming results to be synthesized as students answer critical warfighting questions of the day.
Unlike other Naval War College core courses, Perspectives on Modern War runs throughout the academic year.
Established in 1884, NWC informs today’s decision-makers and educates tomorrow’s leaders by providing educational experiences and learning opportunities that develop their ability to hedge aggressively, innovate continuously, fight distributively, delegate confidently, and command with clarity within complex battlespaces.
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