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U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, the 24th and last commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, delivers remarks during his retirement ceremony at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. Poppas served for over 37 years of active service, the last three-and-a-half as the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command. Poppas’ retirement coincided with the transition of command of FORSCOM to U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, a milestone event in Army history, which honored tradition while formally concluding his leadership of FORSCOM. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Clark)
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Andrew Clark)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, right, the 24th and last commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, prepares to receive the Distinguished Service Medal from retired U.S. Army Gen. John F. Campbell, center, during his retirement ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. Campbell delivered the keynote address during the ceremony in addition to presenting Poppas with several awards and honors, Poppas served for over 37 years, the last three-and-a-half as the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command. Poppas’ retirement coincided with the transition of command of FORSCOM to U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, a milestone event in Army history, which honored tradition while formally concluding his leadership of FORSCOM. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Clark)
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U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, outgoing U.S. Army Forces Command Commanding General, poses with family following the transfer of command ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec.5, 2025. Their attendance highlighted the importance of the occasion as Poppas completed his tenure at the helm of the Army’s largest command. The U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command serves as the Theater Army for both U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command. This newly activated command unifies U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army North, and U.S. Army South as the Army Service Component Command for the Western Hemisphere. Its missions include homeland defense, crisis response, regional security cooperation, and defense support to civil authorities, while also serving as the Army's immediate response force for the region. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. James Hernandez).
(Photo Credit: Pvt. James Hernandez)VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, the 24th and last commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, retired from military service on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. Poppas served for over 37 years, the last three-and-a-half as the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command. Poppas’ retirement coincided with the transition of command of FORSCOM to U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, a milestone event in Army history, which honored tradition while formally concluding his leadership of FORSCOM.
“Your future is not written,” Poppas said in a final statement to the servicemembers under his command. “The world will only become more complex and dangerous in the years ahead. For the things we cannot predict, we train - in as unforgiving conditions as combat itself. Soldiers taught me that lesson, and I trust you to carry it forward, for generations to come.”
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U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, center, the 24th and last commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, poses with members of the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus during his retirement ceremony at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. The All-American Chorus performed songs before and at the end of the ceremony to honor Poppas' more than 37 years of service. Poppas’ retirement coincided with the transition of command of FORSCOM to U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, a milestone event in Army history, which honored tradition while formally concluding his leadership of FORSCOM. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Clark)
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Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, the 24th and last commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, smiles during his retirement ceremony at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. Poppas served for over 37 years, the last three-and-a-half as the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command. Poppas’ retirement coincided with the transition of command of FORSCOM to U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, a milestone event in Army history, which honored tradition while formally concluding his leadership of FORSCOM. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Clark)
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Andrew Clark)VIEW ORIGINAL
Poppas conducted his retirement ceremony at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, surrounded by friends and family. Retired U.S. Army Gen. John F. Campbell delivered the keynote address, honoring Poppas’ many years of service.
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U.S. Army Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, outgoing U.S. Army Forces Command Commanding General (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Nema “Mobar” Mobarakzadeh, the FORSCOM Command Sergeant Major, conduct the casing of the FORSCOM colors, officiated by U.S. Army Gen. Randy A. George, Chief of Staff of the Army, at Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. The FORSCOM colors were cased as part of the ceremony and the stand up of U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command. The U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command serves as the Theater Army for both U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command. This newly activated command unifies U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army North, and U.S. Army South as the Army Service Component Command for the Western Hemisphere. Its missions include homeland defense, crisis response, regional security cooperation, and defense support to civil authorities, while also serving as the Army's immediate response force for the region. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Alexis Fischer)
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A more than 300-person audience applauds during the retirement ceremony for Gen. Andrew P. Poppas at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5, 2025. The crowd was made up of Poppas' friends, family, U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point classmates, and former and current Soldiers, who all gathered to honor his more than 37 years of military service. Poppas’ retirement coincided with the transition of command of FORSCOM to U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, a milestone event in Army history, which honored tradition while formally concluding his leadership of FORSCOM. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrew Clark)
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Andrew Clark)VIEW ORIGINAL
Poppas is a 1988 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and many in his graduating class were in attendance at his retirement ceremony.
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