In brief
In a surprising move, President Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve to become the Army's vice chief of staff. Current Vice Chief Gen. James Mingus, who has been in the role for less than two years, has not indicated plans to leave. This nomination is one of several recent military leadership shifts, raising questions about ongoing changes within the defense structure under Trump's administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve to serve as the Army’s second-highest-ranking officer, according to congressional records.
Gen. James Mingus is currently vice chief of staff and has not publicly said he plans to step aside. He has been in the job less than two years, which is typically a tenure that lasts at least three years.
The move, recorded in congressional documents on Monday, is the latest in a string of unexpected firings, reassignments, and promotions that have been reshaping military leadership under President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Officials in the Army and from Hegseth’s office have not provided details regarding Mingus's apparent ouster and the effort to promote LaNeve, currently serving as Hegseth’s top military aide.
Maj. Peter Sulzona, a spokesman for Mingus, stated via email that he would not comment on pending nominations but emphasized that Mingus “will continue to execute the duties and responsibilities of his position, focusing on warfighting and the well-being of our Soldiers.”
Mingus took on the vice chief role last year after serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, having started under then-chairman Gen. Mark Milley in 2020. Milley, though initially appointed by Trump, faced significant criticism from the president during his second term.
The nomination follows a recent trend of unexpected military retirements, including that of Adm. Alvin Holsey, who announced an early retirement in December after overseeing military operations against alleged drug boats off Venezuela. Additionally, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, head of the Air Force’s Global Strike Command, cited personal reasons for his retirement, further consolidating a notable reshuffle.
Past months have been rife with unexplained separations within military ranks, including the ousting of Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse from the Defense Intelligence Agency and several other senior officers, sparking discussions about the strategic direction of the military under the current administration.
