BRUSSELS (FN) — Gen. Christopher Donahue, the four-star commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, will step down July 2 and is expected to retire, the Army confirmed, as the Pentagon moves to reduce the rank required for the post and reshape its military presence on the continent.
Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said Donahue has submitted retirement paperwork, though the service has not yet finalized whether he will leave the military entirely. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will assume duties until a permanent replacement is named.
Donahue’s departure coincides with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to downgrade the command to a three-star billet, part of broader changes to U.S. force structure in Europe. The move reflects Trump administration priorities that European allies should take greater responsibility for their own defense.
Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that tensions had grown between Hegseth’s office and Donahue’s command, particularly over publicity surrounding Army operations in Europe. Donahue, a career special operations officer who once led Delta Force, previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne Corps.
He became a symbolic figure during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, when he was photographed boarding the last U.S. aircraft out of Kabul. Some critics have linked him to the chaotic exit, though military officials note he was executing orders rather than shaping policy.
Donahue will also relinquish his NATO role as Allied Land Forces commander in Turkey on July 9. British Lt. Gen. Jez Bennett will serve as acting commander until a new American officer is assigned.
While Donahue has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Army chief of staff, Hegseth recently elevated Gen. Chris LaNeve to that role in an acting capacity after dismissing Gen. Randy George. Pentagon officials are also considering him for other four-star positions, including leading a new unmanned systems command.
Analysts say the transition underscores the political sensitivities surrounding senior military appointments in Washington. “You spend your whole career being apolitical and doing the best job you can under civilian leadership, only to watch selections shaped by loyalty,” one source told CNN.
The restructuring of U.S. Army Europe and Africa comes at a time of heightened security concerns across NATO’s eastern flank, with Russia’s war in Ukraine continuing to reshape defense priorities. European allies have increased defense spending, but Washington’s decision to reduce the rank of the command may signal a recalibration of U.S. leadership roles within NATO.
Military experts note that while the downgrade to a three-star command may streamline operations, it could also reduce Washington’s influence in allied decision-making. “Rank matters in NATO,” said one European defense analyst. “A four-star commander carries more weight in negotiations and planning than a three-star.”
Donahue’s career has spanned decades of U.S. military operations, from special operations missions to leading airborne forces. His departure marks the end of a tenure shaped by both battlefield experience and the political complexities of modern military leadership.
