SOUTHCOM Commander Alvin Holsey Stepping Down [View all]
Source: Newsweek
Published Oct 16, 2025 at 04:25 PM EDT updated Oct 16, 2025 at 05:18 PM EDT
Admiral Alvin Holsey, who has led U.S. military efforts in Latin America for less than a year, will step down as commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) at the end of 2025, marking another high-profile departure from the Pentagon during a turbulent period of American military escalation in the Caribbean.
The Defense Department confirmed the retirement of Holsey, a 37-year Navy veteran, amid a widening campaign of U.S. strikes targeting drug smuggling operations off the Venezuelan coast. Holsey, who took command in late 2024, announced his decision in a message shared on X. “It’s been an honor to serve our nation, the American people and support and defend the Constitution for over 37 years,” he wrote, adding, “Serving as your commander and deputy for the past 34 months has been a tremendous honor.”
Why It Matters
Holsey's resignation comes as the U.S. has stepped up its presence in the region, deploying about 10,000 troops, eight warships, and a submarine in the Caribbean, while authorizing lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers at sea. U.S. officials say the mission aims to curb narcotics trafficking and counter the influence of hostile states and nonstate actors in the hemisphere.
It also marks the latest in a series of high-level Pentagon departures under the leadership of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, including several other senior officers who are women or people of color.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/southcom-commander-alvin-holsey-stepping-down-10892109
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