<p>United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has asked the Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to step down and requested his immediate retirement in a major development amid the ongoing Iran war, CBS News reported, citing sources.</p> <p>The move signals a significant transition at the top of the Army as the administration looks to install leadership aligned with President Donald Trump and Hegseth’s strategic vision.</p> <h3>Immediate Exit Confirmed By Pentagon</h3> <p>Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the development, stating that General George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, effective immediately.”</p> <p>He added that the Department of War is grateful for George’s “decades of service to our nation” and extended best wishes for his future.</p> <p>A senior Defence Department official also indicated that the decision was part of a broader need for change, saying, “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”</p> <h3>Christopher LaNeve Named Successor</h3> <p>General Christopher LaNeve, currently the Vice Chief of Staff, has taken over as the acting Army chief. LaNeve, a former military aide to Hegseth, previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division.</p> <p>Parnell described him as “a battle-tested leader with decades of operational experience” who is “completely trusted” to execute the administration’s vision.</p> <h3>Who Is Randy George?</h3> <p>A West Point graduate and career infantry officer, General George had been serving as Army Chief since his Senate confirmation in 2023. His tenure was originally expected to run until 2027.</p> <p>He previously served as senior military assistant to former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and held key roles during deployments in the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.</p> <p>Just days before his retirement, George visited West Point, where he shared “experience-driven guidance” with cadets preparing for leadership roles.</p> <p>General George’s removal comes amid a sweeping restructuring of the US military leadership under Hegseth. More than a dozen senior officers have reportedly been dismissed, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C. Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti.</p> <p>It is thus unclear what prompted the decision. But the CBS report said that there were some concerns around George's ability to carry out Trump's plans for the US Army.</p> <p>The changes also follow a controversial intervention by Hegseth in an Army disciplinary case, where he overruled the suspension of an aircrew involved in a flyby near a celebrity’s residence, posting on social media: “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”</p> <p>However, sources clarified that George’s removal is not linked to that incident.</p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/who-is-randy-george-us-army-chief-of-staff-fired-by-pete-hegseth-amid-iran-war-1834318
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