Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of the U.S. military’s Southern Command, has chosen to retire. He does plan to retire at the end of this year. Holsey joined the organization late last year. Now, he is resigning amid increasing provocations from Venezuela and a new wave of military strikes against suspected Caribbean drug smugglers. The Southern Command position is usually a three-year posting, though Holsey will step down before that full term is completed.
Retiring Holsey Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth jumped on social media last week to spread the word that Holsey is calling it quits. He offered no concrete justification for this move. Holsey’s leadership of Southern Command has been undermined by remarkable operational challenges. These challenges are a result of the complicated geopolitical landscape within Latin America. His command has included important military operations throughout the region, with a focus on countering drug trafficking and supporting regional security.
Holsey had started his military career in 1988. He entered the Navy by way of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at Morehouse College. His arrival into this prominent post, in charge of U.S. military forces before near-peer competitors in the Caribbean and South America, has been remarkable. During his tenure with the NPHA, Holsey has greatly valued resourceful public health messaging and community involvement. In 2021, he shot this inspiring public service announcement. His work urging Black Americans to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine is an illustration of his faithfulness to any public health campaign.
Under Holsey’s command, the Southern Command has faced mounting tensions with Venezuela. These initiatives have recently provoked intense worry over security and stability within the wider region. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has significantly increased its operations in the Caribbean. This action is a continuation of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking and address illicit actors who pose threats to our national security.