The XVIII Airborne Corps held a changing of command ceremony on Friday afternoon at Fort Liberty.

Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson will assume command of the XVIII Airborne Corps from Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue.

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Anderson addressed his fellow soldiers and their families on Friday.

“Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your leadership and continued service and sacrifice for our Army and our nation, and for taking time to dignify this transition of leadership today,” Anderson said. “I am grateful for the honor and great responsibility of commanding the storied XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty.”

The XVIII Airborne Corps commanding general also serves as the senior mission commander of Fort Liberty.

“It is not lost on me how important this command and this installation are to our nation,” Anderson said.

Anderson, who hails from San Jose, California, most recently served as the commanding general of 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York, and has extensive experience in both conventional and special operations units.

After more than two years as the XVIII Airborne Corps Commander, Donahue will receive his fourth star and assume command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in Wiesbaden, Germany.

“The XVIII Airborne Corps is a unit of many, many in the military, but it’s a critical piece,” Donahue said. “Most importantly, its people are willing to go anywhere in the world and do anything that’s required for our nation and our allies.”