| Alvin Holsey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | Bull[1] |
| Born | July 12, 1965 |
| Place of birth | Fort Valley, Georgia, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1988–2025 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
United States Southern Command Navy Personnel Command Carrier Strike Group 1 USS Makin Island (LHD-8) Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Three Seven (HSL-37) |
| Awards |
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (5) |
Alvin Holsey (born 1965)[2] is a United States Navy four-star admiral and naval aviator who has served as the commander of United States Southern Command since 7 November 2024.[3] He previously served as military deputy commander of the United States Southern Command from 2023 to 2024. He previously served as commander of the Navy Personnel Command and Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel from 2021 to 2022. He has command assignments as commander of Carrier Strike Group 1 from 2018 to 2020, and commanding officer of the U.S. Navy’s first hybrid electric propulsion warship, the USS Makin Island (LHD-8) from 2013 to 2014, having started out as its executive officer in February of the former year.[4][5][6]
A native of Fort Valley, Georgia, Holsey was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at Morehouse College in 1988, where he received a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. In 1995, he earned a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University and attended the Joint Forces Staff College in 2010.[7]
In September 2022, Holsey was nominated for promotion to vice admiral,[8] and assignment as the military deputy commander of U.S. Southern Command.[9] In July 2024, Holsey was nominated for promotion to admiral and assignment as the commander of United States Southern Command.[10][11]
In October 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Holsey was retiring at the end of the year.[12] At the time, he was overseeing a Caribbean naval deployment that was the largest he had overseen in his career. According to one US official who spoke to The New York Times, Holsey had privately expressed misgivings about the mission and its fatal strikes on alleged drug boats.[13]
Holsey accepts the USSOUTHCOM command guidon from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (back facing camera) on 7 November 2024
Awards and decorations[]
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References[]
- ↑ "Makin Island congratulates Raider 4". 2016-07-01. https://www.facebook.com/ussmakinisland/posts/makin-island-congratulates-raider-4-captain-alvin-bull-holsey-and-family-on-his-/10157397816755157/.
- ↑ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 165. https://books.google.com/books?id=DD8BVZeVFP4C&pg=PA165. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- ↑ Oblander, Samantha (2024-11-07). "Adm. Holsey Takes Command of SOUTHCOM". Doral, Florida. https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/3960277/adm-holsey-takes-command-of-southcom/.
- ↑ Petty Officer 3rd Class Jared Catlett (2021-01-08). "Navy Personnel Command Holds Change of Command". Navy Personnel Command. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/386638/navy-personnel-command-holds-change-command.
- ↑ "Carrier Strike Group One Holds Change of Command". NNS200626-05. Carrier Strike Group One Public Affairs. 26 June 2020. https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=113386.
- ↑ "Navy Personnel Command Holds Change of Command". 2022-12-15. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/435281/navy-personnel-command-holds-change-command.
- ↑ "Rear Admiral Alvin Holsey". https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Biographies/BioDisplay/Article/2236328/rear-admiral-alvin-holsey/.
- ↑ "PN2669 — Rear Adm. Alvin Holsey — Navy, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". 2022-09-22. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2669?s=1&r=1.
- ↑ "Flag Officer Announcement" (in en-US). https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3169409/flag-officer-announcement/https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3169409/flag-officer-announcement/.[dead link]Template:Cbignore
- ↑ "PN1996 — Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey — Navy". 2024-07-23. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/1996.
- ↑ "Flag Officer Announcements" (in en-US). 2024-07-24. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3848898/flag-officer-announcements/.
- ↑ Mongilio, Heather (2025-10-16). "Admiral Overseeing Caribbean Mission to Retire after One Year in Role" (in en-US). USNI News. https://news.usni.org/2025/10/16/admiral-overseeing-caribbean-mission-to-retire-after-one-year-in-role.
- ↑ Schmitt, Eric; Pager, Tyler (2025-10-16). "Military Commander Overseeing Escalating Attacks Off Venezuela Coast Is Stepping Down, Officials Say" (in en). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/us/politics/southern-command-head-stepping-down.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes.
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The original article can be found at Alvin Holsey and the edit history here.