U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Claude Tudor has taken command of U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) as of June 3, 2025. Tudor is a former Director of Operations for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
As the commander of SOCAFRICA, he is the leader of more than 1,900 U.S. military, interagency, and international military personnel operating in 19 countries throughout Africa and Europe. SOCAFRICA’s main mission is to focus on countering malign influence and transnational threats to enhance regional stability in Africa. In addition, it will engage in operations and events that protect the U.S. homeland, improve partnerships on the continent of Africa, and provide crises response when necessary.
Tudor was commissioned through the Reserves Officers’ Training Corps at Troy State University, Alabama. He has spent the majority of his career in special operations ground combat assignments, deploying extensively. Most of his early career was with Air Force Special Tactics units with Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
He has had several joint assignments in staff and command positions in the later years of his service. From June 2022 to June 2023, he was the commander of Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant in Jordan. In July 2023 he became the Director of Operations at U.S. Africa Command.
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Photo. USAF.
