WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher Laneve to be deputy secretary of state. second highest ranking officer in the armyaccording to the Congressional Record.
Gen. James Mingus currently serves as deputy chief of staff, but has not publicly said he intends to resign. He’s been in the job for less than two years, but typically tenures are at least three years.
The move, published in the Congressional Record on Monday, is the latest. A series of surprising and unexplained gunshotsthe reassignments and promotions that have transformed the military’s senior ranks under the Trump administration. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Officials in the Army and Hegseth’s office did not provide details about Mingus’ apparent ouster and efforts to promote Laneve, who is now Hegseth’s top military aide.
Mingus’ spokesman, Maj. Peter Sulzona, told The Associated Press in an email that he would not comment on pending nominations, but that Mingus “will continue to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position with a focus on combat and Soldier health.”
Mingus had served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2020 under then-chairman Gen. Mark Milley before assuming the deputy chief position last year. Milley was appointed by President Trump during his first term, but later infuriated the president. become the subject of serious criticism In his second term.
The nomination and replacement come less than a week after Adm. Alvin Holsey, the Navy admiral who oversees military operations, took office. Regarding suspected drug smuggling Off the coast of Venezuela suddenly announced early retirement In December.
About a month ago, Air Force Global Strike Command commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere also abruptly announced his retirement, citing “personal and family reasons.” That came more than a month after Air Force Secretary Gen. David Albin made similar remarks. Announced surprising early retirement.
Retirement will come later A series of unexplained dismissals in August Among them was Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, then director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, Chief of the Naval Reserve; Rear Admiral Milton Sands was a Navy SEAL officer who oversaw Naval Special Warfare Command.
Mr. Kruse’s agency produced the initial intelligence assessment The US damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities has been leaked to the press, contradicting the Trump administration’s claims.
In April, Hegseth was also suddenly fired. Air Force Gen. Tim Ho led the National Security Agency and the National Security Agency. Admiral who holds the top post in NATO.
In the early days of the Trump administration, Air Force CQ Gen. Brown Jr. fired In addition to being Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was the highest-ranking officer in the Navy, the second-highest-ranking officer in the Air Force, and the highest-ranking attorney in three military branches.
