8th US Army's New Commander Lanev Inaugurated

Former Commander Bullerson Led USFK for About 3 Years and 6 Months

Christopher Lanev, a U.S. Army Lieutenant General, has been appointed as the new commander of the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea.

Lieutenant General Christopher Laneve of the U.S. Army, who assumed command as the Commander of the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea
[Photo by U.S. Army]

According to the Eighth Army headquarters, on the 5th, at the change of command ceremony held at Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Lanev received the Eighth Army unit flag from outgoing commander Willard Burleson.

Lanev, who graduated from Arizona State University and was commissioned in 1990, previously served as commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division and as chief of operations staff at the Army Futures Command. Promoted to Lieutenant General in November last year, the new Eighth Army commander also served as deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and training at the U.S. Army Headquarters.

In his inaugural address, he said, "It is an honor to join a victorious and historic unit in the Pacific region," and added, "I will do my best to support the strong alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States."

Outgoing commander Burleson led the Eighth Army for about three years and six months since his appointment in October 2020, and retired after 36 years of military service following the ceremony.