Then-Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve speaks at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, on April 16, 2025. LaNeve was promoted to general on Feb. 6, 2026, and his rapid rise through the ranks could culminate in his selection as the next Army chief of staff. (Kihyuk Lee/U.S. Army)
Gen. Christopher LaNeve is set to serve as acting Army chief of staff following the removal of Gen. Randy George, capping a rapid rise through the ranks and positioning him as a leading contender to permanently take over the service’s top post.
LaNeve, who had been the Army’s vice chief of staff, steps into the role after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday removed George before his term was complete.
The shakeup comes at a critical time for the Army, which is preparing for future battlefields where drones and unmanned systems are changing the way ground forces fight.
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve is shown in this undated photo. LaNeve is a contender for the Army chief of staff position following the Thursday announcement of Gen. Randy George's removal. (U.S. Army)
The decision marked the latest in a series of high-profile general officer firings over the past year that have reshaped the military’s upper ranks. George’s dismissal was first reported by CBS News, which said LaNeve will take over in an acting role.
The report quoted Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell who described LaNeve as a “battle-tested leader with decades of operational experience (who) is completely trusted by Secretary Hegseth to carry out the vision of this administration without fault.”
It’s unclear whether LaNeve will ultimately be nominated by President Donald Trump for the permanent position, which requires Senate confirmation.
Some Army insiders say Hegseth’s decision to remove George is the latest indication of significant tension between the Pentagon and Army leadership.
Earlier this week, Hegseth canceled an Army investigation into Apache helicopter aviators who conducted a Saturday flyby past the Tennessee mansion of musician Kid Rock.
There also have been disagreements between the Pentagon and the Army over general officer promotions, according to reports by the New York Times.
Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, a former top Army commander in Europe, said George’s firing raises questions about Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s role in choosing the service’s next uniformed leader.
Driscoll, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, has not yet spoken publicly about George’s removal.
“It’s important for whoever the next chief is that he be respected and seen by everybody else as having been the best choice, not only inside the Army, but also by the other services,” Hodges said.
Besides LaNeve, there are others who bring significant resumes to the table. Near the top of the list may be Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
A major figure in the special operations community, Donahue commanded at every level in the elite Delta Force, served with the Rangers and has been described as the service’s most experienced warfighter.
In addition to years in secretive special operations, he also checks more conventional Army boxes, having led both the 82nd Airborne Division and its higher headquarters, the XVIII Airborne Corps.
Another top contender may be Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, the Combined Forces Command and the United Nations Command.
Earlier in his career, he served with the 82nd Airborne and held positions in the special operations community at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Brunson also previously commanded the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and later served as commanding general of I Corps.
However, the frontrunner appears to be LaNeve, who became the Army’s vice chief in January after serving as Hegseth’s senior military adviser.
LaNeve came onto Trump’s radar during last year’s inauguration, when he appeared virtually at the Commander-in-Chief Ball while serving as the three-star general leading Eighth Army in South Korea.
“Sir, on behalf of the men and women who serve under my command and the thousands of dedicated service members that are part of the joint team in Korea, congratulations on your victory as 47th president of the United States,” LaNeve said at the time. “Welcome back, Mr. President. We’d be privileged to host you here real soon.”
After a brief exchange, Trump said: “Is this man (from) central casting, or what? If I’m doing a movie, I pick him to play my lead.”
Soon after that, LaNeve left his job in South Korea to serve under Hegseth. Before commanding Eighth Army, LaNeve was commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, one of the Army’s most storied units.
vandiver.john@stripes.com @john_vandiver
