U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander Donahue steps down

General Christopher Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa, will step down from his post on July 2, the Army confirmed on Tuesday. His departure after 18 months in command is the latest in a series of leadership changes under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has pursued a policy of reducing the number of senior generals.

Donahue, who also serves as commander of NATO's Allied Land Command, will be succeeded on an interim basis by his deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie. The Army statement did not provide a reason for Donahue's departure, which comes amid a broader Pentagon review of American forces in Europe and internal discussions about restructuring his command.

The general is a career special operations officer and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He previously commanded Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan and led the 82nd Airborne Division from July 2020 to March 2022. Donahue rose to international prominence as the final American service member to leave Afghanistan on Aug. 30, 2021, an event captured in an iconic night-vision photograph of him boarding the last C-17 transport aircraft out of Kabul. His leadership during the chaotic...