US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered Army Chief of Staff Randy George to retire with immediate effect, according to US officials, triggering a sudden leadership change inside the Pentagon.
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Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the decision in a public statement, saying George would step down immediately as the 41st chief of staff of the US Army and thanking him for decades of military service.
Sudden removal of Army chief
Senior Army leaders learned of the decision at the same time as the wider Defense Department when it was publicly announced, according to a US official. The abrupt move caught many in the Pentagon by surprise.
George was informed of the decision during a phone call from Hegseth while he was attending a meeting, a second official said. He later spoke with his staff in person about the development, and officials described the reaction among his team as subdued.
Move follows Trump Iran speech
The leadership change came one day after Donald Trump addressed the nation about the ongoing conflict with Iran. In the speech, the president indicated the United States would intensify military strikes, reversing earlier suggestions that the war could end within weeks.
As Army chief, George played a key role in planning and advising on military operations, including the deployment of forces and the provision of air and missile defence capabilities to US forces.
He also served as a principal adviser on those capabilities to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, as well as to Hegseth.
Officials said the timing of the decision raised concerns inside the Pentagon because the Army is heavily involved in operations linked to the conflict.
One US official described the decision as appearing poorly considered given the operational demands currently facing the military.
Wider shake-up in Army leadership
Hegseth also removed two other senior Army officers the same day. They include the Army’s chief of chaplains, William Green Jr., and David Hodne, who led the Army’s Transformation and Training Command.
The defence secretary has previously dismissed several senior officers during his time in office, signalling a broader shift in military leadership.
George, an infantry officer commissioned from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1988, had served as Army chief of staff since September 2023. Earlier in his career he commanded I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and later served as senior military assistant to former defence secretary Lloyd Austin.
Although the role of senior military assistant is generally viewed as non-political, George’s close working relationship with Austin was viewed negatively by some figures around Hegseth.
Possible successor emerges
Attention has now turned to Army Vice Chief of Staff Chris LaNeve, who is expected to serve as acting chief following George’s departure.
LaNeve previously commanded the US Army’s Eighth Army in South Korea and earlier led the 82nd Airborne Division. He later served as a special assistant within US Army Forces Command before moving to Korea.
He gained public attention shortly after Trump’s inauguration when he addressed the president by video from South Korea during the Commander in Chief’s Ball, congratulating him on returning to office.
Trump praised LaNeve during the exchange, commenting positively on his leadership style.
Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 3 April 2026
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