Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commanding general of US Army Europe and Africa, is stepping down after roughly a year and a half in the position. Donahue, who also leads NATO’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish his command on July 2. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will take over his duties after July 2.
Background
Donahue submitted his retirement papers at the request of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has sought to shrink the number of generals and prioritize adding new soldiers. Donahue is the latest military leader to leave or retire early under Hegseth’s leadership.
Donahue is best known as the last US soldier to leave Afghanistan in August 2021, marking the end of America’s nearly 20-year war launched after the Sept. 11 attacks. He was the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and was brought in to oversee security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic withdrawal.
Leadership and Legacy
Donahue’s leadership of the evacuation, which saw roughly 124,000 Afghan citizens airlifted from the country, drew praise from both Democrats and Republicans, even though the broader withdrawal strategy was criticized as rushed and haphazard. As a top commander in Europe, Donahue coordinated military aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
