Shariful M Khan becomes first Bangladeshi-American brigadier general in US Air Force

Shariful M Khan has become the first Bangladeshi-born American to be promoted to brigadier general in the United States Air Force.

He received the promotion at a ceremony held at the Pentagon on 20 August, where the oath was administered by Gen Sean Bratton, vice chief of Space Operations of the US Space Force.

Confirming the news on X, M Osman Siddique, the first Muslim to serve as a US ambassador, wrote: "Born in Bangladesh, Brigadier General Khan is the first and only Bangladeshi-American to attain this rank in the US military. I congratulate Brigadier General Khan for his loyalty, dedication and service to our country."

According to the US Air Force website, Brig Gen Khan currently serves as Director of Staff of "Golden Dome of America" at the Pentagon, where he oversees strategy, policy, plans and cross-functional issues across all Golden Dome initiatives.

Khan, who earned his commission from the US Air Force Academy in 1997, has had a distinguished career in space operations, satellite systems and launch missions. 

He previously served with the National Reconnaissance Office, commanded both the 379th Space Range Squadron and the 310th Space Wing in Colorado, and was deployed twice to Kuwait, including as Deployment Commander for Operation Silent Sentry in 2007. 

He was promoted to colonel in 2017 before attaining his current rank.

His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the Air Force Academy and advanced degrees in space systems operations management, strategic intelligence, military strategy and national security studies from institutions including Webster University, the National Defense Intelligence College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and the US Naval War College. 

He also completed the MIT National Security Fellowship and a NATO senior officer policy course in Germany.