General Christopher Donahue
Commander, U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command
Christopher Todd Donahue was born in August 1969. He attended Wyoming Seminary before earning an undergraduate degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, from which he was commissioned into the U.S. Army Infantry. He began his service as a rifle platoon leader, and advanced to company command positions.
Donahue became Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He went through 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta force training. He commanded squadrons, troops, and training detachments. He was present during and part of the military response to 9/11 at the Pentagon.
Donahue earned a master’s from the Naval War College and completed an Army War College fellowship at Harvard University. He commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 82nd Airborne Division.
President Joe Biden nominated Donahue to be promoted to general and as commander of U.S. Europe and Africa Command in November 2024. He was confirmed by the Senate in December.
In the News…
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command announced the return of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division to its Kentucky base. While U.S. troops will not be replacing them, the reported American troop presence in Europe remains higher than it was prior to 2022.
“This is not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO and Article 5,” the command stated, referencing the collective security guarantee of the organization’s treaty.
“Rather this is a positive sign of increased European capability and responsibility. Our NATO allies are meeting President Trump’s call to take primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe,” the command said. The service added that the move “will not change the security environment in Europe.”
