Admiral Holsey to Retire at Year’s End
Admiral Alvin Holsey, who leads U.S. military operations against alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela, is set to retire by the end of this year. This announcement came from Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth on Thursday.
Holsey, who is 60 years old, has been at the helm of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) for less than a year. His retirement aligns with the deployment of multiple naval ships and thousands of troops in the region as part of President Trump’s broader strategy targeting a narco-terrorist group that’s thought to be led by Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan dictator.
“On behalf of the Department of the Army, I want to extend our profound appreciation to Adm. Alvin Holsey for his more than 37 years of service to our nation,” Hegseth stated.
Reportedly, Holsey has voiced concerns regarding recent U.S. missile strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels off Venezuela’s coast. Since September, the military has conducted at least five missile attacks targeting these vessels, resulting in the deaths of over 20 individuals linked to drug trafficking.
The Department of Defense commended Holsey’s commitment and highlighted his operational leadership and vision during his time as deputy military commander and now as commander of SOUTHCOM. Hegseth noted, “The Department thanks Admiral Holsey for his decades of service and wishes him and his family all the best moving forward.”
In addition to Holsey’s retirement, there are reports of about 10,000 U.S. troops and several naval vessels being sent to Puerto Rico for counternarcotics efforts. This includes eight Navy warships, a nuclear submarine, and an F-35 fighter jet. Recently, a B-52 bomber was also spotted flying near Venezuela as a display of military strength.
President Trump mentioned that he is contemplating ground operations against Venezuelan drug cartels next, indicating that once naval efforts are solidified, land-based operations may be the next step. “A lot of drugs from Venezuela come in by sea, but we’re also going to stop them on land,” he remarked.
Holsey’s impending retirement adds to a string of high-profile exits from the military, including earlier dismissals of prominent figures like former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti. Hegseth has signaled ongoing changes to military leadership as part of efforts to shift the military’s culture, expressing that change is challenging when led by individuals who may have contributed to the existing culture.
