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US Army Chief of Staff Randy George was dismissed Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to three US defense officials speaking with Reuters. This move marks the latest personnel shake-up among the highest ranks of the Pentagon.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has been aggressively restructuring the department. The firing of a general amid active military operations is highly unusual. The Pentagon announced that George, who still had over a year remaining in his term, would retire immediately from his role as the 41st Army Chief of Staff. The department expressed gratitude for George’s long service and extended best wishes for his retirement.
Two sources, speaking anonymously, indicated that Hegseth also dismissed General David Hodne, commander of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, head of the Army Chaplain Corps. No explanation was provided for George’s ousting, which coincides with ongoing US military buildup in the Middle East, including operations against Iran.
While naval and air forces primarily carry out regional strikes, the Army has deployed personnel for air defense and possibly ground operations — including thousands from the 82nd Airborne Division. George, an infantry officer with deployment experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, was confirmed as Army Chief of Staff in 2023, with terms typically lasting four years. Prior roles included vice chief of staff and military adviser to the Defense Secretary. He was known to be close to Army Secretary Dan Crenshaw, with whom he collaborated on initiatives to modernize weapons and reduce costs.
George’s removal adds to recent leadership upheavals at the Pentagon, following the firing of former Joint Chiefs Chair CQ Brown and other senior officers last year. The Pentagon has yet to comment further.
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