Randy George, the Chief of Staff of the US Army, has been removed from his post by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a rare and sweeping leadership shake-up at the Pentagon, according to US defence officials, reports Reuters.
The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that George, who still had more than a year remaining in his tenure, will “retire effective immediately” from his role as the Army’s 41st chief. It thanked him for his decades of service but did not provide any reason for his sudden departure.
The move is considered highly unusual, as the dismissal of a top general during an active military engagement is nearly unprecedented.
Two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hegseth also dismissed General David Hodne, head of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, who leads the Army’s Chaplain Corps.
George’s removal comes at a time when the United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East and conducting operations involving Iran. While most strikes are being carried out by the Navy and Air Force, US Army personnel have been deployed to support air defence systems in the region.
In recent days, thousands of troops from the elite 82nd Airborne Division have also begun arriving in the Middle East, potentially for ground operations.
There had been no public indication of tension between Hegseth and George prior to the decision. However, the defence secretary has taken a series of controversial steps in reshaping the military leadership, including dismissing senior officials and reversing internal Army decisions.
According to one official, General Christopher LaNeve, currently the Army’s vice chief of staff and a former aide to Hegseth, will assume the role on an acting basis.
George, an infantry officer with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, took over as Army chief in 2023. Before that, he served as vice chief of staff and as a senior military adviser to former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
His removal marks the latest in a series of leadership changes at the Pentagon, following the earlier dismissal of top officials including former Joint Chiefs chairman CQ Brown.
The development underscores growing turbulence within the US military’s senior ranks amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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