Washington, October 5, 2025 (Agencies): The Pentagon has officially downgraded the leadership role of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) from a four-star to a three-star general position, marking the end of nearly seven decades of four-star leadership at one of America’s most strategically important overseas commands.
President Donald Trump on Monday nominated Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds to take over as the next commander of USAFE-AFAFRICA. However, unlike every permanent commander since the late 1950s, Hinds will not be promoted to four-star general upon assuming the role.
A Department of the Air Force spokesperson said the change follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to cut the number of general and flag officers across the military. “In alignment with the Department of War directive to reduce general and flag officer positions, the nominee for the United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander is at the lieutenant general grade,” the spokesperson stated.
Hegseth’s directive, issued in May, ordered a 20% reduction in four-star positions across the active military and the National Guard. He argued that cutting excess leadership roles would remove “unnecessary bureaucratic layers” and enhance operational effectiveness.
The downgrade comes as Trump continues to question America’s defense commitments in Europe, criticizing allies for not spending enough on their own security. During his previous administration, Trump ordered troop reductions in Germany, and lawmakers have voiced concern that further drawdowns could come as Russia maintains an aggressive posture.
Lt. Gen. Hinds, a seasoned F-22 and F-15 instructor pilot with nearly three decades of service, has been serving as deputy commander of USAFE since September 2024 and as acting commander since May, following Gen. James Hecker’s retirement. The USAFE commander oversees U.S. airpower across Europe and Africa and simultaneously serves as head of NATO Allied Air Command.
For USAFE’s first twelve years after its establishment in 1945, the post was typically held by three-star generals, including then-Lt. Gen. Curtis LeMay. In 1957, amid Cold War tensions, Gen. Frank Everest became the first four-star commander of USAFE, a precedent that lasted for almost seventy years.
Currently, other Air Force organizations led by three-star generals include Air Forces Central Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Reserve Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and Air Education and Training Command. The Air Force’s inspector general and surgeon general are also three-star positions.
Hinds will join a leadership cadre that includes about 11 four-star generals in the Air Force, such as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Daniel Caine. The downgrade of the USAFE command reflects a broader shift within the Pentagon to streamline leadership while maintaining strategic deterrence capabilities.