The Army’s vice chief seat is about to change hands again. President Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to become the service’s second-highest uniformed officer. Gen. James Mingus has held the job for less than two years, which is shorter than the typical tenure for this role.
Who Is LaNeve
LaNeve is an infantry officer with combat grit and a resume that could blister a boot sole. He commanded the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He later took over command of Eighth Army in South Korea, where he also served as chief of staff for the Combined Forces Command. In April 2025, he moved to the Pentagon to serve as Hegseth’s senior military assistant, the top uniformed adviser in the SecDef’s front office.
His career path runs through units that value speed, joint integration, and training discipline: Brigade command at 1st Armored Division. Operations Group at the Joint Readiness Training Center. Senior roles inside Army Forces Command. The pattern is clear. He has planned and executed under pressure, then taught others to do the same. His public bio confirms a commission through the ROTC program at the University of Arizona in 1990 and a stack of professional military education certificates that includes Command and General Staff College and the Advanced Operational Art Studies fellowship.
Why This Pick Now
The move aligns with a broader shakeup under Trump and Hegseth, who have been relocating leaders at a brisk pace across the Pentagon. Mingus leaves earlier than the usual three-year mark for a vice chief. The change follows a string of senior shifts and removals in recent months. LaNeve’s selection elevates the one officer who has sat closest to Hegseth since spring, signaling trust and shared priorities within the E Ring.
What the Vice Chief Does
The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army is the chief’s principal deputy. He runs the day-to-day of the Army Staff so the chief can fight for resources and policy at the Joint Chiefs level. By law, the vice chief wears four stars while in the job. Orders issued in performance of those duties carry the same weight as those issued by the chief. The vice chief also represents the Army on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, which determines what is purchased and how it is prioritized. Think of the role as the service’s executive officer who keeps the machine humming and the bills paid while the boss is tending to other matters.
How Likely Is the Senate to Confirm Him
The Senate is under Republican control in the current Congress. That matters for a Trump nominee moving through the Armed Services Committee and then to the floor. Recent defense nominees have cleared with bipartisan votes, which suggests a workable path if there is no surprise controversy. The committee processes thousands of promotions and senior billets each year, and service vice chiefs are routine business, though the timing can swing from weeks to a few months. Given LaNeve’s mainstream Army pedigree and his prior Senate handled promotions, confirmation appears more likely than not.
Watch for questions about independence, civil-military norms, and how he would handle readiness and end strength.
Already have an account? Sign In
Two ways to continue to read this article.
How This Aligns With Hegseth’s Portfolio
As senior military assistant, LaNeve has been the first call inside Hegseth’s small circle. That job shapes what the secretary sees, who he meets, and how priorities are framed for action. Moving LaNeve into the vice chief seat puts a trusted warrior at the control panel of Army execution. If Hegseth wants faster movement on recruiting fixes, industrial base contracts, or training reforms, the vice chief is the one who turns guidance into tasking for the Army Staff. The pick makes the SecDef’s guidance feel less like a memo and more like marching orders with a clock on them.
What To Watch Next
First, the Armed Services Committee hearing. Expect senators to press LaNeve on how he would manage readiness while modernizing, and how he would advise the chief if White House priorities conflict with the Army’s risk posture.
Second, the handoff from Mingus. Early transitions can ripple through budgets, acquisition boards, and global force management.
Third, any immediate taskers from OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense) that hit recruiting, quality of life, or munitions buying. Those are the places where a vice chief earns the paycheck in month one.
Bottom Line
LaNeve brings airborne credibility and toughness, a Korea command, and fresh insight from Hegseth’s front office. The role he is walking into is the Army’s engine room. It pushes dollars, shapes formations, and keeps the chief free to fight the bigger fights. With a friendly Senate road, he looks positioned to clear the bar.
If confirmed, expect a fast tempo, tight alignment with Hegseth, and a focus on near-term readiness that can move the needle before the next budget season.
