Christopher LaNeve

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Christopher LaNeve
LTG Christopher C. LaNeve (4).jpg
Official portrait, 2025
AllegianceUnited States
Branch United States Army
Service years1990–present
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands Eighth Army
82nd Airborne Division
7th Army Training Command
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal (3)

Christopher C. LaNeve is a United States Army lieutenant general who has served as the senior military assistant to the secretary of war since April 2025. He most recently served as the commanding general of Eighth Army and chief of staff of the Combined Forces Command from 2024 to 2025. He previously served as the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division from 2022 to 2023, and as the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and training of the United States Army Forces Command from 2021 to 2022.

Contents

Early life and education

LaNeve obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in 1989, [1] a Master's of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master's of Military Art and Science in Strategic Studies from the Command and General Staff College Advanced Operational Art Studies Fellowship. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, the Joint Forces Staff College, and Senior Service College Fellows Course. [2] [3]

Army career

Commissioning from the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps, [1] LaNeve graduated from the University of Arizona and was commissioned into the Infantry in May 1990. His initial assignment was to Fort Ord, where he served in 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. As a Captain, he commanded a company in the 101st Airborne Division, 3d Battalion, 327th Infantry as well as the Sabalauski Air Assault School after completing the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course and service at the Western Illinois University ROTC program. He then transferred to Washington, D.C. in 1999 where he was assigned as the Executive Officer to the Army Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (G-3/5/7), and later the Deputy Director of Executive Communications and Control Division-Operations in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army. [2]

Following Command and General Staff College, while a major, he was assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He served as the Brigade S4 and Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, and subsequently as the Brigade Operations Officer. In 2006, he was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., where he served in the Defense Warning Office. [2]

LaNeve commanded 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Following command, he assumed duties as the J3, Combined Joint Task Force 82 in Regional Command East, Afghanistan. Upon redeployment, he served as the G3, 82nd Airborne Division. LTG LaNeve went on to command the "Bulldog BCT," 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, and Operations Group (COG), Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson. After his time at Fort Johnson, he served as the Executive Officer to the Commander, Resolute Support Mission, Afghanistan and then as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Afterwards, he served as the Commanding General for the 7th Army Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany, and then at the Pentagon as the HQDA Director of Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (G-3/5/7). Prior to command of the 82nd Airborne Division he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff (G-3/5/7) for U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. [2] [4]

LaNeve was the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division from March 2022 until November 2023, during which time the division was deployed to Poland due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. From November 2023 to March 2024, he was a special assistant to the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg. [1] [5] [6] LaNeve assumed command of the United States Eighth Army in South Korea on 5 April 2024. [7] In March 2025, LaNeve was nominated for reappointment as a lieutenant general and assignment as senior military assistant to the secretary of defense. [8] [9] He relinquished command of the Eighth Army on 16 April 2025 [10] and took the post of senior military assistant to defense secretary Pete Hegseth. In October 2025, LaNeve was nominated by President Donald Trump for assignment as the vice chief of staff of the United States Army and for appointment to the grade of general, replacing James Mingus. [11] [12]

Personal life

LaNeve and his wife Kim have a daughter and a son who are officers serving in the U.S. Army. [2]

Dates of promotion

RankBranchDate [6]
US Army O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier general Army2 April 2018
US Army O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major general 25 February 2021
US Army O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant general 5 April 2024

References

  1. 1 2 3 Burkhart, Ford (Fall 2023). "Spirit of Wonder in Alumni: Maj. Gen. Chris LaNeve '89". alumni.arizona.edu. University of Arizona. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lieutenant General Christopher C. LaNeve". 8tharmy.korea.army.mil. United States Army. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. "Maj. Gen. Christopher LaNeve Bio" (PDF). api.army.mil. Retrieved 9 November 2023.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. "PN1115 — Maj. Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve — Army". U.S. Congress. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  5. "General Officer Nomination Announcement, dtd 2 November 2023 - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
  6. 1 2 "Lieutenant General Christopher C. LaNeve - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
  7. Thuloweit, Kenji (5 April 2024). "LaNeve takes reins of Eighth Army as new CG". www.army.mil. United States Army. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  8. "PN56 — Lt. Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve — Army, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". U.S. Congress. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  9. "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 25 March 2025. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  10. Thuloweit, Kenji (16 April 2025). "LaNeve relinquishes command of Eighth Army to take role at Pentagon". U.S. Army. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  11. Lawrence, Drew F.; Nieberg, Patty (21 October 2025). "Trump taps Hegseth's senior military assistant as No. 2 Army officer". Task and Purpose . Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  12. Toropin, Konstantin (22 October 2025). "Trump nominates new Army vice chief with current general just two years into the role". PBS . Retrieved 25 November 2025.