Top Army commander in Europe, Africa relinquishes role

Source: The Hill

07/02/26 4:09 PM ET


Army Gen. Christopher Donahue on Thursday relinquished command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in Wiesbaden, Germany, after he was unexpectedly ousted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month. Donahue, 56, was widely seen as a rising star in the Army and spent decades in the military special operations realm but left his most recent role after 18 months.

“I love this team, it has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of it. I’m proud of what we built and I have absolute confidence in what you will build next,” Donahue said during a relinquishment of command ceremony. “So, when people ask me, ‘Hey CD, what was it like to be a part of United States Army Europe and Africa?’ I only have to tell them how proud and unbelievably grateful I am to have been a part of the United States Army’s premier warfighting headquarters.”

The former Army Ranger and part of Delta Force rose to command the elite unit before becoming commander of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, aiding in evacuating allies from Kabul’s international airport during the chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is regarded as the last soldier to leave Kabul during the 2021 pullout, with the night vision photo of him stepping onto the final C-17 a defining image of the war.

Donahue will be replaced by his deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, in an acting capacity until President Trump names a successor. Donahue had been nominated by former President Biden.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5952031-donahue-relinquishes-command-europe/