General Michael Elliott Langley (Retired) is a distinguished American military officer who achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Black four-star general in the 246-year history of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). His career culminated as the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), one of the seven U.S. joint service geographic combatant commands.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Michael Elliott Langley |
| Born | c. 1961/1962, Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps (USMC) |
| Service Years | 1985–2025 |
| Highest Rank | General (Four-Star) |
| Key Command | Commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (2022–2025) |
| Education | BBA, University of Texas at Arlington; M.S., Naval War College; M.S., U.S. Army War College |
| Significance | First African American to achieve the rank of General (Four-Star) in the USMC. |
Early Life and Education
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Military Family: Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Langley was raised in a military family; his father, Willie C. Langley, was a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant. His father’s commitment to service was a major influence on his own career path.
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Commissioning: He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington (BBA) in 1985, having entered the Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) program in 1983. He was commissioned as an Artillery Officer into the Marine Corps the same year.
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Advanced Degrees: General Langley holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Science in National Security Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Military Career and Operational Commands
General Langley commanded at every level from platoon to regiment across a 40-year career.
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Early Deployments: His early service included command of Battery K, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, in support of Operation WILDFIRE. He later served as Deputy G-1 for the 1st Marine Division during Operation RESTORE HOPE in Somalia in the early 1990s.
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General Officer Commands: As a General Officer, his key assignments included:
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Commanding General, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
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Commander, Marine Forces Europe and Africa (MARFOREUR/AF).
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Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
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Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and Commander, Marine Forces Command.
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Global Service: He deployed in multiple theaters, including tours in Okinawa, Japan, and the War in Afghanistan.
Historic Four-Star Promotion and AFRICOM
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The Milestone: In June 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Langley for promotion to the rank of General. On August 6, 2022, he was promoted at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., officially becoming the first Black four-star general in the history of the Marine Corps.
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AFRICOM Command: Following his promotion, he assumed command of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. As Commander, he was responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, and security cooperation across 53 African nations. His focus was on advancing U.S. security interests by countering transnational threats and building the capacity of African partner nations.
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Retirement: General Langley retired in August 2025, concluding a distinguished career of 40 years of service.
General Langley is viewed as a pioneer whose achievement serves as an inspiration and a crucial step in promoting diversity within the U.S. military’s highest ranks.