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General Chris Donahue, a highly decorated and experienced Army leader, is stepping down from his role as commander of U.S. Army operations in Europe and Africa, sources say. His retirement is expected to be announced as soon as Wednesday, according to a U.S. official speaking to ABC News.
At 56 years old, Donahue has served just 18 months in this key position. Throughout his career, he has led elite units such as Delta Force and has two decades of combat experience, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Notably, Donahue commanded the 82nd Airborne Division during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, becoming the last American service member to leave the country-a moment immortalized in a night-vision photo of him boarding a C-17 aircraft. This photograph is prominently featured on the Department of Defense’s website, where he is honored as the “Last Soldier to Board,” marking the completion of the U.S. evacuation mission.
Despite his distinguished record and previous consideration as a candidate for top Army leadership roles, Donahue is the latest senior officer to exit amid sweeping changes initiated by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has been actively restructuring the Pentagon’s leadership, removing or diminishing the roles of several high-ranking officers.
Reports suggest that Hegseth is preparing to reduce Donahue’s command from a four-star to a three-star position, effectively lowering his rank and scope of responsibility. This move follows earlier reports that General Randy George, the Army’s top officer, was asked to step down abruptly in April 2026 under Hegseth’s directive.
Donahue is expected to formally hand over his command in a change of command ceremony scheduled for next week, as the Pentagon undergoes significant leadership shifts under the current administration.