Pentagon pick for top Army job in Europe is 3-star general surnamed Admiral

STUTTGART, Germany — Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral was nominated this week to serve as the next leader of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Admiral, whose nomination was announced Thursday by the Pentagon, would also serve as the leader of NATO land forces in Europe. He currently serves as the commander of III Corps and Fort Hood in Texas.

The nomination called for Admiral’s reappointment to the rank of lieutenant general in line with the Pentagon’s decision to downgrade USAREUR-AF’s headquarters to a three-star command.

Prior to leading III Corps, Admiral served as the Army’s director of force management and before that commanded the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

The Army’s mission in Europe has been in transition since the departure of Gen. Christopher Donahue, who relinquished command earlier this month.

Widely regarded as one of the Army’s most innovative leaders, Donahue put in his retirement papers in June.

His exit became a point of contention, with backers saying he was forced into retirement by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The Defense Department never publicly addressed the circumstances surrounding Donahue’s retirement.

If confirmed, Admiral will come to the job with experience commanding at numerous levels. He also will lead at a time when the Army’s mission in Europe is adapting as the Pentagon adjusts force levels on the Continent.

Among the recent moves was the Pentagon’s decision to cancel the deployment of a Fort Hood-based armored brigade to Poland. At the same time, the Pentagon and Polish leaders have been in talks about increasing U.S. troop presence in that country in other ways.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has said it will reduce its troop presence in Germany by about 5,000, but it hasn’t fully detailed how that will be accomplished.