Admiral Alvin Holsey relinquished his leadership of U.S. Southern Command on Friday ahead of his pending retirement after serving 37 years in the Navy. Photo by Mariano Macz/EPA
Dec. 12 (UPI) — U.S. Southern Command leader Adm. Alvin Holsey relinquished his command on Friday amid his pending retirement from the Navy after 37 years of service.
Holsey announced his pending retirement in October without giving a reason, CBS News reported.
He relinquished his command over military forces in South America during a ceremony Friday at Southern Command headquarters.
“We have worked hard and tirelessly to build relationships and understand requirements across the region,” Holsey said during a command-change ceremony.
“That work must continue across the whole government to deliver at the point of need to respond to shared threats in our neighborhood — the time is now.”
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine bestowed the Defense Distinguished Service Medal upon Holsey during the ceremony and included a citation that was signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“One of Adm. Holsey’s most significant achievements was the transformation of USSOUTHCOM into a more agile, capable and operationally present force,” U.S. Southern Command officials said Thursday in a news release, as reported by The Hill.
“Under his leadership, the command expanded from roughly 3,500 personnel to nearly 15,000 personnel in direct support of operations in the region,” the release said.
“The operational impact was immediately felt, with the expanded U.S. presence across the region, improving responsiveness and strengthening deterrence.”
Holsey initially was scheduled to lead Southern Command for four years, but stepped down amid the U.S. military buildup in the region after taking command in November 2024.
Holsey and Hegseth have had disagreements regarding strikes on alleged drug vessels and other actions that have raised tensions between the United States and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to CBS News.
The U.S. military has targeted at least 22 vessels in strikes that have killed at least 87 crew members deemed “narco-terrorists” by the Trump administration and Hegseth since the strikes began in September.
Hegseth also accused Holsey of moving too slowly in developing options to ensure the United States has unhindered access to the Panama Canal, which President Donald Trump has said the nation should reclaim from Panama, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus is scheduled to replace Holsey as acting commander of Southern Command.