Vice Admiral Alvin Hosley '88 Nominated to Lead the  Combatant Command

President Joe Biden nominated Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey '88, deputy of U.S. Southern Command, to lead the combatant command, the Pentagon announced.News provided by U.S. Navy

Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey '88 is up for a fourth star and to serve as the commander of Southern Command, according to a Defense Department announcement.

Holsey has been the military deputy commander of SOUTHCOM since February 2023. If confirmed by the Senate, Holsey would replace Army Gen. Laura Richardson, who has led the combatant command since October of 2021.

A career aviator, Holsey previously served as the deputy chief of naval personnel, according to his service biography. He also previously led the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group.

Vice Admiral Holsey is a native of Fort Valley, GA and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at Morehouse in 1988, where he received a degree in Computer Science. He earned a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University in 1995 and attended the Joint Forces Staff College in 2010.

At sea, he deployed with USS Jesse L. Brown (FF 1089), USS Nicholson (DD 982), USS Vreeland (FF 1068), USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and USS Simpson (FFG 56) flying both the SH-2F Seasprite and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters.  He commanded Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Three Seven (HSL-37) and the Navy’s first hybrid electric propulsion warship, USS Makin Island (LHD 8).

His military decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign and service awards.