Gen. Christopher Donahue is expected to retire from the Army as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moves to restructure senior military leadership, according to multiple reports.
Donahue, 56, currently oversees U.S. Army operations in Europe and Africa and has been regarded as one of the Army’s most experienced senior commanders.
His retirement is expected to be announced this week.
Donahue’s departure follows reports that Hegseth plans to downgrade the command from a four-star position to a three-star post.
According to ABC News, the change would eliminate the four-star billet currently held by Donahue.
Under military regulations, four-star officers must occupy designated four-star positions, often leaving retirement as the only option when those positions are eliminated.
Donahue is one of the Army’s most decorated combat commanders.
He previously commanded Delta Force and later led the 82nd Airborne Division.
During the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Donahue became the last American service member to leave the country, appearing in a widely circulated night-vision photograph as he boarded a departing C-17 aircraft.
The reported retirement comes amid broader changes to senior Pentagon leadership under Hegseth.
Since taking office, the defense secretary has overseen the departure or reassignment of numerous generals and admirals across the military.
Supporters of the effort have described the changes as part of an effort to streamline military leadership and reshape the senior officer corps.
Critics have argued that the departures risk reducing institutional experience during a period of heightened international tensions.
In April, Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George along with several other senior Army leaders.
Those departures followed earlier changes involving former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.
Reports have characterized the broader effort as one of the most significant leadership reorganizations at the Pentagon in recent years.
According to reports, Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral is expected to be nominated to succeed Donahue.
Donahue’s retirement also comes as the Pentagon reviews the future of U.S. military deployments in Europe.
Last week, the Defense Department announced a six-month review of troop levels across the continent.
The review will examine the number of American personnel stationed in Europe as well as the deployment of fighter aircraft, drones, naval vessels and submarines.
Hegseth has said the objective is to encourage European allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense.
The review follows months of debate over America’s long-term military posture overseas.
Officials have indicated that no final decisions regarding force reductions have been announced, per the Daily Mail.
Donahue’s departure marks the latest change among the military’s senior leadership as the Pentagon continues implementing its broader restructuring efforts.
His retirement concludes a military career spanning more than two decades of combat service and leadership in some of the Army’s most prominent commands.
