WIESBADEN — President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral to lead U.S. Army Europe and Africa as its next commander. The nomination requires Senate confirmation before Admiral can assume the post.

If confirmed, Admiral would also serve as commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command. He is the permanent replacement for Gen. Christopher Donahue, who departed his role as head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa a few weeks ago. Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie has been serving as acting commander since Donahue’s exit.

Admiral would remain a three-star general if confirmed for the role. The position of commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa was previously a four-star position. The U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters was officially downgraded from a four-star to a three-star command in 2026 as part of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s initiative to reduce the number of four-star general officer billets across the military.

Admiral is currently the commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, Texas. His other general officer assignments have included service as commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division. He also served as director of force management in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7.

Admiral holds a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas and a Master of Science in Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School, with additional training as a Senior Service College Fellow at the Royal College of defense Studies in London. He has received multiple military awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge, recognizing his service in combat roles during deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa is headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. The command provides land forces for American military operations in Europe and Africa. It also provides multinational training and security cooperation.

More than 100 countries are in the area of responsibility of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command is a subordinate command of the organization.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa has supported military innovation initiatives such as Flytrap. Flytrap is a counter-drone and technology experimentation effort. The command has also supported NATO’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative.

A key aim of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative is to defeat adversary mass and momentum with low cost, attritable uncrewed systems, AI-enabled targeting, and layered defenses. The initiative is backed by an integrated mission command network that uses live data to enhance decision-making.

The nomination places a three-star general at the helm of a command responsible for more than 100 countries across two continents. The reduction in the position's rank from four stars to three reflects a broader Department of Defense effort to streamline senior leadership structures. Admiral’s confirmation would finalize the leadership transition that began with Gen. Christopher Donahue’s departure a few weeks ago, ending the interim period under Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa plays a central role in NATO deterrence efforts, particularly through its support of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative. This initiative relies on advanced technologies such as AI-enabled targeting and uncrewed systems to counter potential adversaries. The command’s involvement in innovation projects like Flytrap indicates a continued focus on integrating new technologies into traditional land operations. Admiral’s background in force management and command of armored corps units aligns with these operational priorities.