WASHINGTON, D.C. — Brigadier General Eric Widmar, the senior legal counsel to the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is retiring nearly a year before his term was scheduled to end. Widmar attributed his departure to personal reasons in an emailed statement.

"Earlier this year, my wife and I reflected on the demands of this role, which have required me to live apart from my wife for the past two years and created additional challenges for me and my family," Widmar said. "After careful consideration, I decided it was time to place my family at the center of my life and focus on our next chapter together." He also stated that he did not take his decision to retire lightly.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that Widmar is deeply respected and admired by all. "We will miss his legal counsel, incredible expertise and experience, and his understanding of our responsibility to always speak truth to power," Caine said. Widmar had been confirmed by the Senate as legal counsel to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2024.

Widmar is a West Point graduate who served more than 28 years in the military. He previously advised on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as staff judge advocate for Central Command.

The early retirement of a senior legal counsel such as Widmar means a leadership change in a critical advisory role to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Widmar's stated reasons for leaving reference two years of living apart from his wife. His departure also removes an individual described by General Dan Caine as having extensive experience and a commitment to speaking truth to power.