The admiral overseeing US Southern Command, which has accountability for forces in the Caribbean, the place the US has carried out a number of legally ambiguous strikes in opposition to alleged drug cartels, is retiring one year into his tenure, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in a social media put up on X on Thursday.
The information comes just days after the US navy performed its fifth recognized strike on a ship alleged to be trafficking medication off the coast of Venezuela, killing six individuals. It additionally comes one day after President Donald Trump stated publicly that he had authorized the CIA to function inside Venezuela to clamp down on the circulation of medication and migrants. Also on Wednesday, US Air Force B-52 bombers flew off the coast of Venezuela for greater than 4 hours, NCS beforehand reported.
Tensions had been simmering between Hegseth and Adm. Alvin Holsey for weeks earlier than the admiral introduced he was leaving, two sources accustomed to the matter instructed NCS. Hegseth didn’t consider Holsey was transferring shortly or aggressively sufficient to fight drug traffickers in the Caribbean, and he complained about not being given the info he wanted about the operations, the sources stated. But SOUTHCOM was involved about the operations not being lawful, the sources added.
The tensions got here to a head throughout a gathering between Hegseth, Holsey and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine on October 6 at the Pentagon, one of the sources stated. Holsey supplied to resign throughout the assembly, the supply stated, however the thought was tabled and his departure was not introduced till over every week later. His departure may even not be imminent — as a substitute, he’ll retire at the finish of the year.
The Pentagon’s spokesperson Sean Parnell denied on X that Holsey ever expressed reservations about the counter-narcotic mission in the Caribbean.
Holsey confirmed in a press release on X that on December 12, 2025, “I will retire from the US Navy.”
“Serving as your commander and deputy for the past 34 months has been a tremendous honor,” Holsey wrote. “The SOUTHCOM team has made lasting contributions to the defense of our nation and will continue to do so. I am confident that you will forge ahead, focused on your mission that strengthens our nation and ensures its longevity as a beacon of freedom around the globe.”
Neither the US Navy nor Southern Command have responded to a request for remark.
Holsey was sworn in as the commander of Southern Command in November 2024. Holsey’s predecessor, Army Gen. Laura Richardson, served as the Southern Command commander from 2021 to 2025 earlier than retiring.
Holsey has served in uniform for 37 years since commissioning from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1988, in accordance to his official Navy biography. His earlier assignments have included commander of the Navy’s Carrier Strike Group One, an operations officer in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and most not too long ago as the Military Deputy Commander at Southern Command.
“On behalf of the Department of War, we extend our deepest gratitude to Admiral Alvin Holsey for his more than 37 years of distinguished service to our nation as he plans to retire at year’s end,” Hegseth stated in his X put up.
Hegseth has changed quite a lot of senior officers throughout the navy since taking on as Secretary this year, together with by firing former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. James Slife, former vice chief of workers of the Air Force; and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, former head of the US Defense Intelligence Agency.
This story has been up to date with extra reporting.
CORRECTION: This story has been up to date to precisely mirror Holsey’s present rank.