Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, right, relinquishes the Eighth Army guidon to Lt. Gen. David Iverson at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, April 16, 2025. (Lee Kihyuk/U.S. Army)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — After just a year leading American ground forces in South Korea, Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve relinquished command of the Eighth Army this week as he prepares for a new post as senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
During a Wednesday ceremony at Eighth Army headquarters, LaNeve formally passed command to Brig. Gen. Sean Crockett, his deputy, who will serve in an acting capacity until a permanent successor is nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate.
LaNeve assumed command April 5, 2024, and was nominated for his new role on March 25. His predecessor, Lt. Gen. Willard Burleson, served for four years, following nearly three years under Lt. Gen. Michael Bills.
Speaking at the ceremony, LaNeve emphasized the enduring partnership between the United States and South Korea, a cornerstone of security on the peninsula since the end of the Korean War, according to a statement emailed Thursday by command spokesman James Choe.
Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve speaks during the Eighth Army relinquishment-of-command ceremony at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, April 16, 2025. (Lee Kihyuk/U.S. Army)
“It is not just a military friendship,” LaNeve said, according to the statement. “It is a bond between our two countries that has been earned in blood and sacrifice. This alliance is our legacy.”
LaNeve’s departure comes as the United States and South Korea continue to conduct regular joint military exercises, including the large-scale Freedom Shield and Ulchi Freedom Shield drills held during his tenure.
In January, LaNeve and members of his staff made a virtual appearance at the Commander-in-Chief Ball on inauguration day in Washington, D.C. Speaking with Trump via video call, LaNeve described the Eighth Army as “the bedrock of unmistakable land power on freedom’s frontier in Asia.”
Trump, known for his flair for showmanship, responded by calling LaNeve a “man from central casting,” adding, “If I’m doing a movie, I pick him to play my lead.”
Before coming to Korea, LaNeve commanded the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and served in senior roles at Army Forces Command and the Seventh Army Training Command in Europe. A 1989 graduate of the University of Arizona, LaNeve has spent more than three decades in uniform.
Established in June 1944, the Eighth Army has played a defining role in U.S. military history, from fighting in the Pacific during World War II to its pivotal role in the Korean War and ongoing presence on the peninsula.
