Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, center right, overlooks humanitarian aid routes on a map inside the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, Israel, on Dec. 3, 2025. Frank, who was the longest-serving commander of U.S. Army Central, took over as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command earlier this month. (Mike Ito/U.S. Army)
The longest-serving head of U.S. Army Central is now the deputy chief of U.S. Central Command, stepping into the role as fighting between the U.S. and Iran threatens to undermine ongoing negotiations to formally end the war.
Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank took over as deputy commander in June, CENTCOM said Monday. Frank, who will serve under CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper, was head of ARCENT for almost four years.
Frank has played an integral role in the Iran mission dubbed Operation Epic Fury, according to Pentagon officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in March praised him for leading counter-missile and drone operations in the theater, working to intercept the thousands of Iranian projectiles launched at U.S. bases and allies in the region.
Last year, he also led the joint civil-military operations center in Israel, which helped coordinate humanitarian aid to Gaza residents following the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in that war.
Lt. Gen. Kevin Leahy will now take over the Army command after having temporarily served as CENTCOM’s acting deputy commander.
Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, center, listens to a mission brief alongside Mike Waltz, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, right, during a visit to the Civil-MIlitary Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, Israel on Dec. 9, 2025. Frank was the longest-serving head of U.S. Army Central before stepping into the role of U.S. Central Command deputy commander earlier this month. (Michael Ito/U.S. Army)
The change in command comes at a tense time for diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
After signing a memorandum of understanding in mid-June, the two nations have struggled to come to terms on next steps to end the war, including plans for Iran’s nuclear program and the potential lifting of U.S. sanctions.
A weekend of armed exchanges cast fresh doubt on the ceasefire. President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. diplomats would travel to Qatar for talks the following day.
However, some Iranian state media reports have denied that any bilateral meetings would take place in the coming days.
