Last soldier out of Afghanistan becomes latest general to step down

Last soldier out of Afghanistan now the latest general to step down

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to Task & Purpose that Gen. Christopher Donahue will soon relinquish command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Gen. Christopher Donahue, the top Army general in Europe and Africa, will be stepping down. The news was first reported by The Atlantic’s Nancy A. Youssef and Missy Ryan.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to Task & Purpose that Donahue will soon relinquish command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, which is expected to announce the move on Wednesday. Donahue took over the top role at the command in December 2024.

During the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, while serving as a commander of the 82nd Airborne, Donahue was photographed boarding the final C-17 out of Hamid Karzai International Airport and widely described as the “last soldier” out of Afghanistan.

Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, boards a C-17 cargo plane at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Maj. Gen. Donahue is the final American service member to depart Afghanistan; his departure closes the U.S. mission to evacuate American citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and vulnerable Afghans. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Alex Burnett) — Then-Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, boards a C-17 cargo plane at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Army photo by Master Sgt. Alex Burnett.

Though the revelation of his departure may have been sudden, the move wasn’t without foreshadowing.

Since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assumed his current role in January 2025, a number of generals and admirals have been fired or abruptly announced their decision to retire, including former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who was asked by Hegseth to retire earlier this year.

Other departures include former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, then serving as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, who was serving as U.S. representative to the NATO Military Committee.

More recently, former Navy Secretary John Phelan abruptly left his role in April.

Last month, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) appeared to voice concern that Donahue’s ouster may be on the horizon, writing on social media that, “If the rumors are true that Hegseth is trying to sideline General Chris Donahue, one of our nation’s finest warfighters, by downgrading U.S. Army Europe-Africa to a 3-star command, he is taking another step down a dangerous path.”

Donahue spent the majority of his career leading ground combat and special operations troops after commissioning in 1992.