Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa and one of the military’s most prominent officers, will step down on July 2 after just 18 months in the post, the Army confirmed to the Associated Press late Tuesday. Donahue, who also serves as commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, is the latest senior officer to leave amid Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s drive to slim down the Pentagon’s upper ranks under the slogan “less generals, more GIs.”JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. His departure follows a wave of leadership changes that has seen nearly two dozen top military leaders retire, be removed or leave early. The command he currently leads — responsible for Army operations across Europe and Africa and central to coordinating support for Ukraine and NATO’s eastern flank — is also expected to be downgraded from a four-star to a three-star position. Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, Donahue’s deputy, will assume his responsibilities on an interim basis, according to the Army. A graduate of West Point and a career special operations officer, Donahue previously commanded Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan before leading the famed 82nd Airborne Division between 2020 and 2022. He rose to international prominence during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. On Aug. 30, 2021, Donahue became the final American service member to leave the country after nearly two decades of war launched following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.