Gen Charles Costanza has been removed from his position as commander of the U.S. Army’s V Corps, bringing an unexpected end to his tenure at the major Army headquarters responsible for operations across Europe. The Army confirmed the leadership change in early August 2026, while the circumstances behind his removal have not been publicly disclosed.
The development comes less than two months before a leadership transition that was already planned for V Corps. Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey had been selected to become the corps’ next commanding general and had also been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general.
For now, Brig. Gen. John B. Mountford is serving as the acting commander.
The change places new attention on V Corps and its leadership structure at a time when the U.S. Army continues to work closely with NATO allies across Europe.
Gen Charles Costanza No Longer Commands V Corps
Costanza had served as V Corps commander since April 2024. His departure from the position came earlier than the previously anticipated leadership handoff.
The Army confirmed that Costanza was removed from command. The service has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the decision.
That means several details remain officially unknown. The Army has not announced a specific incident, finding, disciplinary action or other public explanation connected to the removal.
The lack of an announced reason makes it important to separate confirmed information from claims circulating online.
What is established is that Costanza no longer holds command of V Corps and that Mountford has taken over the leadership role on an interim basis.
The Army has also already identified Costanza’s eventual successor.
Who Is Charles Costanza?
Lt. Gen. Charles D. Costanza is a career Army armor officer who received his commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1991.
His military career spans more than three decades and includes command positions at several levels.
Before taking charge of V Corps, Costanza served as deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. He previously commanded the 3rd Infantry Division.
His earlier command assignments included positions with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Infantry Division.
Costanza’s background is closely connected to armored formations and large-scale military operations.
His professional education includes a master’s degree in military studies from American Military University and a master’s degree in advanced military studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
That experience helped prepare him for senior responsibilities in Europe, where V Corps operates with U.S. forces and allied militaries.
Costanza Took Command in April 2024
Costanza assumed command of V Corps on April 8, 2024.
The change of command took place at Camp Kościuszko in Poznan, Poland. He succeeded Lt. Gen. John S. Kolasheski, who had led the corps following its reactivation.
Costanza became only the second commanding general of V Corps since the Army reactivated the formation in 2020.
His appointment came as the Army continued strengthening its operational presence in Europe.
V Corps has its main headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky, while its forward headquarters operates from Camp Kościuszko in Poland.
The Poland-based headquarters gives the corps a permanent forward presence near NATO’s eastern flank.
That location has become increasingly important to the Army’s European mission.
What V Corps Does
V Corps serves as an operational headquarters for the U.S. Army in Europe.
Its work includes coordinating military operations, supporting readiness and conducting exercises with NATO allies and partner nations.
The corps also helps synchronize multinational activities involving forces from several countries.
Its forward headquarters in Poland places senior U.S. Army leadership close to countries on NATO’s eastern side.
The corps’ responsibilities have grown in importance since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
U.S. and allied forces have increased training and readiness activities across the region. V Corps has played a central role in those efforts.
The command also works with European partners to improve interoperability.
Interoperability allows military forces from different countries to communicate, plan and operate together more effectively.
For V Corps, that cooperation is a regular part of its mission.
Costanza Led V Corps During Major European Operations
During his time as commander, Costanza represented V Corps at military events across Europe.
He regularly worked with U.S. personnel, NATO allies and partner forces.
One of the most visible parts of his assignment was the corps’ forward presence in Poland.
Camp Kościuszko has developed into an important center for U.S. Army activity in the country.
The location supports military coordination and helps maintain the American Army’s presence close to NATO’s eastern flank.
Costanza’s leadership also included participation in ceremonies and multinational activities throughout Europe.
In 2025, he delivered remarks at a ceremony in Sainte-Mère-Église, France, honoring Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The event connected the modern U.S. military presence in Europe with the history of Allied operations during World War II.
Costanza also participated in V Corps ceremonies involving changes in senior leadership.
Those events highlighted the multinational character of the corps and its relationships with allied forces.
John Mountford Becomes Acting Commander
Brig. Gen. John B. Mountford is now serving as acting commander of V Corps.
Mountford already held a senior leadership position within the organization.
He served as V Corps’ deputy commanding general for readiness.
That background gives him direct experience with the corps’ mission and operations.
Mountford is a field artillery officer who graduated from West Point in 1995.
His career includes command assignments with the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment and the 210th Field Artillery Brigade.
He has also held senior staff positions in the United States and overseas.
Before joining V Corps in its current leadership structure, Mountford served as deputy chief of staff for operations with the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in the United Kingdom.
His background includes assignments involving Europe, Australia and Asia.
He also completed the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the United Kingdom’s Higher Command and Staff Course.
Mountford’s existing role within V Corps means he is familiar with the headquarters and its responsibilities.
Thomas Feltey Is Set to Become the Next Commander
The Army had already identified Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey as the next V Corps commander before Costanza’s removal.
The Defense Department announced in July 2026 that Feltey had been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and selected to lead V Corps.
Feltey currently commands the 1st Cavalry Division.
His selection means the Army had already established a succession plan for the corps.
The planned transition was expected to occur after the necessary confirmation process and a formal change-of-command ceremony.
Costanza’s early departure therefore creates an interim leadership period rather than an entirely new search for a commander.
Mountford is handling the leadership responsibilities while the Army moves toward the next permanent command arrangement.
The Army has not publicly announced that Feltey’s previously planned transition will occur earlier because of Costanza’s removal.
Costanza and Feltey Have Worked Together Before
The upcoming leadership change has an additional connection.
Costanza and Feltey have already appeared together during Army leadership events.
In August 2024, Costanza presided over the change-of-command ceremony in which Feltey became commander of the 1st Cavalry Division.
The ceremony took place in Boleslawiec, Poland.
At that time, Feltey succeeded Maj. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral as commander of the division.
Feltey subsequently continued leading the 1st Cavalry Division.
His selection for V Corps now moves him into a larger command role.
The planned promotion from major general to lieutenant general reflects the senior level of responsibility associated with commanding V Corps.
Why V Corps Is Important to the U.S. Army
V Corps has a distinctive role because it is the Army’s forward-deployed corps headquarters in Europe.
Its presence in Poland allows the Army to maintain senior operational leadership close to NATO’s eastern flank.
The corps coordinates with U.S. Army formations and allied forces across Europe.
Training exercises are a major part of that mission.
During 2026, V Corps participated in Warfighter Exercise 26-03 in Poland.
The exercise focused on mission command, long-range precision fires and multinational operations.
Such exercises allow participating forces to practice coordination under complex conditions.
They also help military organizations identify areas where communications, planning and operations can be improved.
The corps’ role therefore extends beyond its headquarters locations.
Its activities connect U.S. Army units with military organizations from multiple allied nations.
A Leadership Change During a Major European Mission
The timing of Costanza’s departure is notable because V Corps continues to carry significant responsibilities in Europe.
The organization remains involved in multinational readiness and deterrence activities.
Its forward headquarters in Poland also represents a long-term U.S. Army presence in the region.
That makes leadership continuity important.
Mountford’s appointment as acting commander provides an experienced officer to oversee the corps while the next permanent leadership transition takes shape.
The Army has not announced any change to V Corps’ core mission following Costanza’s removal.
Its responsibilities remain centered on supporting Army operations, readiness and cooperation with NATO allies and partners.
What Is Known About Costanza’s Removal
The Army has confirmed the removal itself.
However, it has not released a detailed public explanation for the decision.
That distinction is important when evaluating reports about Costanza.
A command removal does not automatically establish the reason for the decision.
Without an official explanation, specific claims about what caused the action cannot be presented as confirmed facts.
The Army has also not publicly announced a new assignment for Costanza.
His next career step remains unclear from the information publicly available as of August 9, 2026.
The absence of an announced next assignment does not by itself establish whether he will receive another position, retire or take another career path.
Those details require an official announcement.
The Planned Succession at V Corps
The Army’s leadership structure now has three key names connected to the transition.
- Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza: Former V Corps commanding general who was removed from command.
- Brig. Gen. John B. Mountford: Acting V Corps commander following Costanza’s departure.
- Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey: Selected to become the next permanent V Corps commander and nominated for promotion to lieutenant general.
This arrangement gives the corps a clear interim leadership structure.
Feltey’s eventual arrival will also continue a leadership connection between the 1st Cavalry Division and V Corps.
He already has experience operating in the European theater and has worked with senior V Corps leadership.
Costanza’s Record at V Corps
Costanza’s tenure began in April 2024 and lasted more than two years.
During that period, he led the corps as its forward presence in Europe continued to develop.
His public duties included meetings, ceremonies, multinational exercises and engagements with soldiers and allied personnel.
He also emphasized readiness and cooperation among U.S. and allied forces.
V Corps’ mission required frequent interaction with partner militaries.
Poland remained particularly important because of the corps’ forward headquarters at Camp Kościuszko.
Costanza also addressed Army audiences in the United States.
At Fort Knox in 2024, he spoke during Retiree Appreciation Day and discussed the role of former service members and their continued connection to the Army.
His leadership activities therefore covered both operational and ceremonial responsibilities.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus is the continuation of V Corps operations under Mountford.
The corps remains responsible for its existing mission while the Army works through the leadership transition.
Feltey’s nomination and selection are also important parts of the next stage.
His move requires the applicable confirmation process and a formal change of command before he assumes the position permanently.
The Army has not announced a revised timetable that would move his command change ahead of the previously planned transition.
Costanza’s future also remains open.
No new assignment has been publicly announced for him following his removal from V Corps.
For now, the confirmed information is limited to his departure from command and the temporary leadership arrangement that followed.
What the Gen Charles Costanza Update Means
The latest development involving Gen Charles Costanza is a significant change for one of the U.S. Army’s most important European commands.
Costanza no longer leads V Corps after more than two years in the position. Mountford has assumed the command on an acting basis, while Feltey remains the selected successor.
The Army has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for Costanza’s removal. His future assignment has also not been announced.
V Corps, meanwhile, continues its mission in Europe and maintains its forward headquarters in Poland.
The organization remains focused on readiness, multinational cooperation and coordination with NATO allies and partner forces.
The next major development will be the Army’s formal announcement on the permanent V Corps command transition and any confirmed information about Costanza’s future.