Formation
/ Events / CINCs
Chapter 1: USCENTCOM
Events of the late 1970's threatened the stability of the Central Region and placed vital U.S. interests at risk. Following the revolution and subsequent fall of the Shah of Iran, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) was formed at MacDill AFB, Florida on March 1, 1980. During 1981 and 1982 it evolved from a worldwide deployable force to a de facto regional unified command representing U.S. interests in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. As a result of this evolution, the RDJTF was deactivated on December 31, 1982 to be replaced with the U.S. Central Command on January 1, 1983.
The timeline below highlights significant events in the history of USCENTCOM.
General J. H. Binford Peay, III, CINCCENT
Past and present USCENTCOM Commanders in Chief are listed below:
General Robert C. Kingston, USA Jan 1983 - Nov 1985
General George B. Crist, USMC Nov 1985 - Nov 1988
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA Nov 1988 - Aug 1991
General Joseph P. Hoar, USMC Aug 1991 - Aug 1994
General J. H. Binford Peay, III, USA Aug 1994 -
