Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced today that President Donald J. Trump has nominated 35 colonels for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. The nominations, made public on May 20, 2026, include 34 Air Force colonels and one Army colonel, signaling significant leadership advancements across various commands and specialized roles within the U.S. military.
The extensive list of Air Force nominees includes officers currently serving in diverse capacities such as wing commanders, directors of operations, and mobilization assistants. For instance, Air Force Col. Michael C. Alfaro, commander of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and Air Force Col. Bryan M. Bailey, commander of the 452 Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California, are among those put forward for promotion. Other nominees hold key positions at the Pentagon, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and various Air Force bases nationwide.
The sole Army nominee is Col. John W. Sannes, who currently serves as deputy commander (support) for the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The nominations reflect a wide array of expertise, from strategic deterrence and nuclear integration to logistics, engineering, force protection, and legislative liaison.
These nominations underscore the ongoing commitment to strengthening military leadership and ensuring experienced personnel are in critical command and staff positions. The appointments are subject to the standard confirmation process.