Admiral Alvin Holsey, the head of the US Southern Command responsible for military operations in the Caribbean, Central, and South America, announced his retirement effective December 12, 2025. Holsey took command in November 2024 but is stepping down less than a year into what is usually a three-year assignment. No official reason was given for his early departure, but his retirement comes amid a wave of high-profile resignations in the Pentagon and amid controversy over increased US military activity in the southern Caribbean.

During his tenure, Admiral Holsey made history as the first African American to lead SOUTHCOM, following Army General Laura Richardson, the first woman in the role. He recently visited the Eastern Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada, where discussions focused on security collaboration to combat transnational crime and illicit trafficking. However, Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has firmly opposed hosting any US military assets on the islands.

Holsey’s leadership coincided with heightened US military operations targeting drug trafficking vessels near the Caribbean coast, sparking both support and criticism from regional leaders. Some Caribbean governments back the efforts, while others warn these actions threaten regional sovereignty and the idea of the Caribbean as a zone of peace. Holsey’s farewell message expressed confidence in his team’s ongoing mission to defend the nation and promote freedom.

For more on US Southern Command and its Caribbean security efforts, visit the official US Department of Defense SOUTHCOM page.