Adm. Alvin Holsey, the top dog at U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), is hanging up his uniform far sooner than expected.
According to The Hill, Holsey’s retirement on Friday, December 13, 2025, comes amidst reported friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whispers of policy clashes over military strikes and Panama Canal strategies, and the Trump administration’s mounting focus on Venezuela.
Let’s rewind a bit to set the stage.
Holsey’s Short Tenure at Southcom
Holsey, a Navy veteran with over 30 years of service, took the helm at Southcom on November 7, 2024, only to announce his retirement in mid-October 2025—barely a year into the gig.
That’s right, two years ahead of schedule, and word on the street is that Hegseth personally requested he step aside. Now, while the brass isn’t spilling all the tea, the timing and context raise eyebrows, especially for those of us who value strong, decisive military leadership over bureaucratic dawdling.
Tensions Over Policy and Operations
Under Holsey’s watch, Southcom ballooned from about 3,500 to nearly 15,000 personnel, a move that sharpened the command’s edge in the region.
As a Southcom press release noted on December 12, 2025, “One of Adm. Holsey’s most significant achievements was the transformation of USSOUTHCOM into a more agile, capable and operationally present force.”
They added, “The operational impact was immediately felt, with the expanded U.S. presence across the region, improving responsiveness and strengthening deterrence.” Nice words, but let’s be real—expansion is great until it’s slowed by hesitation on critical missions.
Disputes Over Lethal Strikes Surface
One sticking point appears to be Holsey’s reported unease with the legality of lethal military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Since early September 2025, the U.S. has executed at least 22 such strikes, taking out 87 alleged narco-terrorists, a campaign many conservatives see as a long-overdue crackdown on drug cartels—yet Holsey’s doubts suggest a troubling reluctance to fully engage.
Then there’s the Panama Canal issue, where Hegseth reportedly felt Holsey dragged his feet on military options for full U.S. access after President Trump signaled interest in reclaiming control, per The Wall Street Journal.
Political Pressure and Leadership Shakeups
Adding fuel to the fire, Holsey’s exit aligns with the administration’s intensified push against Venezuela, hinting at broader strategic disagreements.
His departure isn’t a lone event—other top military figures, like former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and former Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown, were shown the door without clear reasons earlier this year under Hegseth’s watch.
Call it a pattern or just housecleaning, but when compared to Navy Adm. William Fallon’s abrupt retirement under the Bush administration over policy spats, Holsey’s early goodbye feels like another chapter in the struggle between military tradition and bold executive vision.
