Spectators applaud Gen. Christopher Donahue as he takes his final walk as the United States Army Europe and Africa commander on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany on July 2, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — Gen. Christopher Donahue stepped down Thursday as the leader of the Army’s mission in Europe, which was officially downgraded to a three-star headquarters.
Donahue relinquished command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa at a ceremony at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, where hundreds of service members and dignitaries gathered to bid farewell to one of the military’s biggest names.
U.S. European Command’s Gen. Alexus Grynkewich lauded Donahue for a career that involved numerous missions, citing his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, his leadership in battling the Islamic State and his role in supporting Ukraine’s war against Russia.
In particular, Grynkewich highlighted Donahue’s efforts to adapt the Army to a new era of warfare defined by drones, artificial intelligence and the integration of networks and data to fight more effectively.
“CD was able to foresee as few others could that there was a coming change in the character of war,” Grynkewich said.
“Behind that tough exterior, behind that warfighter,” Donahue also brought an intellectual curiosity to command, Grynkewich said.
“He reads books about artificial intelligence and data and algorithms and quantum computing, autonomous systems. For most of us, this would be some sort of severe punishment, but for CD, just a little light reading before he falls asleep,” Grynkewich said.
United States European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Alexus Grynkewich delivers remarks during Gen. Christopher Donahue’s relinquishment of command ceremony at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, on July 2, 2026. Grynkewich praised Donahue’s efforts in leading Army adaptation in a new era of warfare. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Gen. Christopher Donahue shakes hands with EUCOM commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich after relinquishing command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa during a ceremony at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, on July 2, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Gen. Christopher Donahue passes the U.S. Army Europe and Africa colors to United States Africa Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. John Brennan, symbolically relinquishing command of USAREURAF at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, on July 2, 2026. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, both military veterans, were among those in attendance at the ceremony. Hundreds of others lined the sidewalks outside USAREUR-AF’s command center to applaud Donahue and his family as they walked toward the ceremony grounds.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, Donahue’s deputy, is now serving as the acting commander for USAREUR-AF. Grynkewich confirmed the headquarters was officially being downgraded to a three-star command. That move is part of a broader effort by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to trim the number of general officers in the ranks and reduce the number of four-star billets. Last year, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa also was reduced to a three-star command.
Inside the Army, Donahue had been viewed as one of the service’s go-to thinkers and at the forefront of organizing the force for future battlefields. Supporters also saw him as a potential candidate to become the Army’s next chief of staff. But last week, news emerged that Donahue had submitted paperwork to retire.
His looming departure prompted criticism from numerous lawmakers, who said that Donahue was being forced into retirement by Hegseth. The Defense Department hasn’t publicly addressed the circumstances surrounding Donahue’s expected retirement. During the ceremony Thursday, there was no mention of the situation.
Donahue kept his remarks at the ceremony focused on his troops and their mission, heaping praise on his command team and allies for their efforts. “I see an incredible future, because of all the leaders that are here, and because of all the things that we all know you are going to do,” Donahue said.
He also singled out U.S. Army units and commanders involved in missions related to deterring Russian aggression on NATO’s eastern flank, and their readiness to act if called upon.
“I would let my kids go to war with them,” Donahue said.
Stars and Stripes reporter Bradley Latham contributed from Wiesbaden.
Gen. Christopher Donahue delivers final remarks after relinquishing command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, on July 2, 2026. Donahue is retiring from service after leading the command for 18 months. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
