Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander of US Southern Command who reportedly clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the legality of US military strikes in the Caribbean, formally retired on Friday in a ceremony in Florida the place he handed the reins of the command to his deputy.
Holsey thanked his spouse, his sons — one of whom is a presently deployed Naval aviator — and others who attended the occasion.
“I’m reminded that in life, we don’t remember days, we remember moments. Those we lead don’t follow titles, they follow courage, and they remember the moments and how you made them feel,” Holsey mentioned. “They remember those who listen and treated them with dignity and respect.”
Holsey might be changed by Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus, who has been serving as his deputy at Southern Command since Holsey was elevated to the position final yr.
Southern Command is chargeable for managing US military operations in most of Latin America and the Caribbean Sea.
Holsey’s retirement was announced in October by Hegseth, lower than a yr into Holsey’s command and simply days after the US performed its fifth assault on an alleged drug trafficking boat off the coast of Venezuela. Hegseth and Holsey had disagreements over US operations in the area, two sources acquainted with the matter beforehand informed NCS.
Hegseth felt Holsey was not shifting aggressively sufficient to fight drug traffickers in the Southern Command space of operations, NCS has reported, whereas Southern Command officers have been involved about the legality of the strikes.
Those points got here to a head in an October 6 assembly at the Pentagon between Holsey, Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. One of the sources acquainted with the scenario mentioned Holsey provided to depart his submit throughout that assembly, NCS has reported, however the provide was tabled.
The legality of the US strikes towards alleged drug boats has come underneath elevated scrutiny in latest weeks as lawmakers have demanded solutions a couple of follow-on strike carried out in September that killed two survivors of an preliminary assault.
Caine, who presided over Friday’s ceremony, known as Holsey a “quiet professional” and “an extraordinary human who’s always led with your heart, your head, and gone all-in every single day of your service.”
“You’ve made an incredible difference to our joint force. You made an incredible difference here in this headquarters. You make an incredible difference to this nation…we will always be grateful for the gift of a great example for you and your family’s service and sacrifice, and for the way that you’ve approached the professional wisdom of leadership and service,” Cain mentioned. “The impact that you’ve had will last for a long, long time.”