The Pentagon has reduced the rank of the Air Force’s chief commander in Europe to that of a three-star general.

On Monday, President Donald Trump appointed Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds as the upcoming leader of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. Unlike his predecessors since the late 1950s, Hinds will not receive a promotion to four-star general with his new position.

A spokesperson from the Department of the Air Force stated that this adjustment follows an order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth aimed at reducing the number of general officers across the armed forces.

“In line with the Department of War’s directive to decrease general and flag officer roles, the nominee for the commander of United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa will maintain the rank of lieutenant general,” the spokesperson explained.

In May, Hegseth sent a memo to the Pentagon’s top leadership mandating a minimum 20% reduction of four-star generals and admirals in active military components, along with a 20% cut of general officers in the National Guard.

“The Department of Defense is dedicated to maintaining the combat readiness of U.S. military forces to deter threats and secure a decisive victory when needed,” Hegseth stated in May. “This mission requires us to foster outstanding senior leaders who are pioneers in innovation and operational excellence, free from unnecessary bureaucratic layers that stifle their potential and efficiency.”

“An essential step in this process is the elimination of redundant force structure to enhance and streamline leadership by cutting surplus general and flag officer positions,” he added.

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Trump has often expressed skepticism regarding U.S. involvement in Europe and criticized European allies for not investing sufficiently in their own defense. Near the end of his first term, Trump initiated a withdrawal of some troops from Germany, and there have been recent concerns among legislators that he might further reduce troop levels there amid heightened Russian aggression.

In February, Hegseth indicated that the administration was evaluating global force levels, but had no immediate plans to decrease troop numbers in Europe.

Since May, following the retirement of former USAFE leader Gen. James Hecker, Hinds has acted as the deputy commander and then the interim commander of USAFE. He is a seasoned instructor pilot for both the F-22 and F-15 with nearly three decades of service and has also held the position of wing commander.

The commander of USAFE is responsible for overseeing U.S. airpower in both Europe and Africa and also serves as the head of NATO Allied Air Command.

For the first twelve years after its establishment in 1945, USAFE was predominantly led by three-star generals, including then-Lt. Gen. Curtis LeMay. This changed in 1957 when the Cold War with the Soviet Union escalated, and Gen. Frank Everest assumed command, initiating nearly seven decades of predominantly four-star leadership, except during brief periods when three-stars served as acting commanders.

Other Air Force commands led by three-star generals include U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Reserve Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and Air Education and Training Command. The positions of the Air Force’s inspector general and surgeon general are also held by three-star generals.

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U.S. Army Europe and Africa is commanded by a four-star, Army Gen. Christopher Donahue.

With the retirement of Hecker, the Air Force currently has about 11 four-star generals. These include Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, his designated successor Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Daniel Caine, Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, and NATO military commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, along with the leaders of NORAD, U.S. Africa Command, and the National Guard Bureau.

The vice chief of staff of the Air Force, also a four-star position, has been vacant since Trump dismissed Gen. Jim Slife in February.

The leaders of Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Mobility Command, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Combat Command are also four-star generals. However, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, the current commander of Global Strike, announced his retirement on Tuesday evening for personal and family reasons.

This summer, the White House nominated Bussiere to be the next vice chief of staff of the Air Force, but his nomination was retracted in September.

The White House has also confirmed five other nominations for Air Force and Space Force major generals to be promoted to lieutenant generals and assigned new roles:

  • Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, currently the commander of the Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, is slated to become the deputy commander of Global Strike.

  • Maj. Gen. Clark Quinn, presently deputy commander of Air Education and Training Command, is set to become the commander of AETC.

  • Maj. Gen. Jennifer Hammerstedt, currently director of logistics, engineering, and force protection at ACC, will take over as the new commander of AFMC’s Air Force Sustainment Center.

  • Maj. Gen. Daniel Tulley, currently director of operations at U.S. Transportation Command, will become the commander and president of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

  • Space Force Maj. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, now special assistant to the chief of space operations, will take command of U.S. Space Forces-Space/Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.