US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Randy George to step down from his post. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced George’s immediate retirement as the 41st Army chief.
George, a West Point graduate, took the role in 2023 under former President Joe Biden. Army chiefs typically serve four years. George fought in the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan as an infantry officer.
A senior defence official stated leadership needed a change. Parnell praised George’s decades of service and wished him well in retirement. The move follows Trump’s announcement of an imminent US-Israel-Iran war conclusion.
Gen Christopher LaNeve, Army Vice-Chief of Staff, assumes acting Army chief duties. CBS sources report removals of Gen David Hodne from Transformation and Training Command and Maj Gen William Green from Chaplain Corps.
Parnell called LaNeve a battle-tested leader trusted by Hegseth to execute administration goals. Hegseth fired over a dozen senior officers since taking office, including naval operations chief and Air Force vice-chief. West Point cadets met George Wednesday for leadership guidance.
