Gen. Chris Donahue to Retire as U.S. Army Europe and Africa Commander on July 2

Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, will relinquish command on July 2. Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, his deputy, will perform the duties of the commanding general after that date.

The U.S. Army confirmed the transition in a statement. Donahue is a West Point graduate, former Delta Force commander and former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. He helped lead security for the 2021 Kabul evacuation and was the last American soldier on the ground in Afghanistan before boarding the final U.S. aircraft departing Kabul on August 30, 2021.

The following year he was among the first senior officers on the ground in Europe to assist Ukrainian armed forces after the full-scale Russian invasion. He was promoted to four-star rank in December 2024.

Under federal code an officer promoted to that rank needs a presidential waiver to retire at four stars after serving fewer than three years in grade. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Donahue met once in person on February 15, 2025, in Powidz, Poland.

Several other high-profile military officials have departed since President Trump's return to office. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George was asked to step down in April. Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield was removed in April from her position as the U.S. military representative to NATO's military committee.

Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown was ousted as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in February 2025, along with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife. Adm. Linda Fagan was fired as Coast Guard Commandant shortly before February 2025.