'Last Soldier Out of Afghanistan' Steps Down as General
A single photograph made him instantly recognizable: the last American boot stepping off a C-17 in Kabul.
Now General Chris Donahue is stepping down from one of the Army's most senior commands.
Who Donahue Actually Is
Donahue spent the majority of his career leading ground combat troops after commissioning in 1992, eventually commanding the 82nd Airborne Division — the role he held during the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
CBS News reported the image of him boarding the final C-17 out of Hamid Karzai International Airport became a defining and heavily contested symbol of America's exit from its longest war.
In December 2024, Donahue took command of US Army Europe and Africa, a role that placed him at the center of supporting Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.
It had long been assumed he would eventually become Army Chief of Staff and remain in uniform for years to come.
📰 Related: Trust in US Federal Government Hits Record Low
How the News Actually Broke
The Atlantic's Nancy A. Youssef and Missy Ryan were first to report Donahue's departure.
Task & Purpose confirmed a source familiar with the matter verified Donahue will soon relinquish his command, with an official announcement expected from US Army Europe and Africa.
His deputy, Major General Christopher Norrie, is expected to serve as acting commander once Donahue departs. Lieutenant General Kevin Admiral is seen as the administration's likely pick to take over permanently, though he has not yet been formally nominated.
The suddenness of the announcement, even though Donahue's broader trajectory had been the subject of speculation, struck many in the military who'd followed his career closely.
📰 Related: Trump's $200M White House Ballroom Faces New Hurdles
Why This Fits a Larger Pattern
Donahue's departure is the latest entry in a long list of senior military leadership changes since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took office in January 2025.
That list includes former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who Hegseth asked to retire earlier this year, former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr., former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and former Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife.
Raw Story reported that the pace and suddenness of these senior departures has become frequent enough that Senate Democrats added a provision to the latest Pentagon budget proposal requiring congressional notification before officer promotions can be delayed or withheld.
Military sources who spoke to The Atlantic characterized the broader pattern as Hegseth's "war on warriors," describing an environment where officers feel evaluated based on alignment with the administration's approach to military reform rather than traditional career merit alone.
What People Who Know Donahue Are Saying
Reaction to the news from those who've worked alongside Donahue has been notably warm, even amid the broader controversy surrounding the pace of these departures.
Brett McGurk, who served as special presidential envoy to the counter-ISIS coalition across the Obama and first Trump administrations, told CBS News that few people bear more responsibility for the defeat of ISIS than Donahue, describing him as among the most consequential commanders of his generation.
A colleague separately described Donahue as one of the nation's best, a bold and innovative leader respected equally by experienced special operations personnel and ordinary soldiers alike.
That kind of praise, paired with the abrupt nature of his exit, has fueled broader questions about whether the current pace of senior leadership turnover serves military readiness or undermines it.
What This Means Going Forward
The Department of Defense has officially cited a need for "new leadership perspectives" to meet a volatile global security landscape, without offering a more specific rationale for Donahue's particular departure.
A senior analyst close to defense policy noted that military integrity depends on a foundation of merit and continuity, warning that removing experienced leaders of Donahue's caliber without clear explanation creates uncertainty that ripples through the ranks below them.
As the Pentagon continues preparing for further leadership changes in the coming weeks, the open question is whether this sustained restructuring ultimately strengthens military readiness, as Hegseth has stated is the goal, or fractures the command culture the changes are meant to improve.
Key Takeaways
- General Chris Donahue, widely known as the last American soldier out of Afghanistan, is stepping down as commander of US Army Europe and Africa.
- The news was first reported by The Atlantic; Donahue took the role in December 2024.
- Major General Christopher Norrie will serve as acting commander; Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral is the expected permanent replacement.
- Donahue's exit is the latest in a long series of senior departures since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took office in January 2025.
- Senate Democrats have added language to the Pentagon budget proposal requiring congressional notification before officer promotions are delayed.
- Colleagues, including Brett McGurk, have praised Donahue as one of the most consequential commanders of his generation.
Sources
Also Read
You might also like
World News Correspondent
Rachel Hayes reports on international affairs, geopolitics, and breaking world news. Based in London, she covers stories shaping the UK and global political landscape.
