Donahue Steps Down Amid Pentagon Reforms

General Christopher Donahue, the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021 and a decorated leader who commanded Delta Force and the 82nd Airborne, is stepping down after just 18 months as commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa — a move seen as part of the Pentagon’s broader push to reduce the number of high-ranking officers. His iconic image boarding the final plane out of Afghanistan during the chaotic withdrawal has become a symbol of the war’s end, yet his early exit, amid ongoing reviews of the Afghanistan withdrawal and European force posture, comes as surprise to many who saw him as a future Army leader. His deputy, Major General Christopher Norrie, will assume temporary command. While the Pentagon hasn’t disclosed specific reasons, the move aligns with Defense Secretary’s vision of fewer generals and more enlisted personnel — and signals a larger wave of leadership transitions as the U.S. seeks to shift more responsibility to NATO in Europe. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/76286bef69d43bfa