Gen. Christopher Donahue to unexpectedly relinquish command of Army Europe and Africa

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Donahue, who oversaw the service’s operations across Europe and Africa and became known as the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan, will unexpectedly relinquish command next week after just 18 months in the role, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday.

“Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish command on July 2, 2026,” Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said in a statement.

“Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, deputy commander, U.S. Army Europe and Africa will perform the duties of the commanding general. The Army thanks Gen. Donahue for his leadership of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.”

The Army did not provide a reason for the abrupt leadership change. Donahue’s exit was first reported Tuesday by The Atlantic.

The West Point graduate took command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in December 2024 after previously leading the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division. Donahue in 2021 oversaw security during the frenzied U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

A night-vision Pentagon photograph showing Donahue boarding the last C-17 out of Kabul became one of the defining images capturing the end of a nearly 20-year war.

His departure comes amid the Pentagon’s broad senior leadership changes under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who in April asked U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down and retire ahead of the typical four-year term.

Since taking office, Hegseth has removed more than a dozen senior military leaders, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown and former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.

Eve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer. She has covered conflict across the world, writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

美国陆军上将克里斯托弗·多纳休曾负责指挥美国陆军在欧洲和非洲的行动，并因是最后一位离开阿富汗的美军士兵而闻名。五角大楼周三证实，多纳休上将在担任该职务仅 18 个月后，于下周意外卸任。

“美国陆军欧洲和非洲司令部司令兼北约盟军陆地司令部司令克里斯托弗·多纳休将军将于2026年7月2日卸任，”陆军发言人辛西娅·O·史密斯在一份声明中说。

“美国陆军欧洲和非洲司令部副司令克里斯托弗·诺里少将将代理司令职务。陆军感谢多纳休将军对美国陆军欧洲和非洲司令部的领导。”

陆军方面并未解释此次突然的领导层变动。唐纳休的离职消息最早由《大西洋月刊》于周二报道。

这位西点军校毕业生于2024年12月接管美国陆军欧洲和非洲司令部，此前他曾指挥第十八空降军和第82空降师。2021年，多纳休在美军仓促从阿富汗撤军期间负责安全工作。

一张五角大楼夜视照片显示，唐纳休登上最后一架离开喀布尔的 C-17 运输机，这张照片成为记录这场持续近 20 年战争结束的标志性照片之一。

在他离职之际，五角大楼正在进行大规模的高级领导层变动，国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯 (Pete Hegseth) 于 4 月要求美国陆军参谋长兰迪·乔治 (Randy George) 将军提前卸任并退休，而乔治将军的任期通常为四年。

自上任以来，赫格塞斯已经撤换了十几名高级军事领导人，其中包括前参谋长联席会议主席 CQ 布朗将军和前海军作战部长丽莎·弗兰切蒂海军上将。

伊芙·桑普森是一名记者，也是一名前陆军军官。她曾报道过世界各地的冲突，为《纽约时报》、《华盛顿邮报》和美联社撰稿。