US Air Force chief to retire early in Pentagon shake-up
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US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin will retire two years into his four-year term, becoming the latest senior officer to exit under Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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In this image provided by the Air Force, then-Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin speaks with civic leaders from communities near Hill Air Force Base, Utah, during a meeting at the Pentagon, June 21, 2023. (Eric Dietrich/US Air Force via AP)
US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin will step down two years into his four-year term, becoming the latest senior military leader to exit under the Trump administration. The announcement underscores Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ongoing reshaping of Pentagon leadership.
The US Air Force confirmed Monday that Allvin intends to retire in early November. Until the Senate confirms his successor, Allvin will continue to serve. Sources told The Washington Post that Allvin was asked to retire after Pentagon leadership signaled it wanted to move in a new direction. Although allowed to announce the decision himself, the move “was certainly not his choice,” one official familiar with the matter told the outlet.
The decision follows the removal of several top officers since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of naval operations, the commandant of the Coast Guard, and the vice chief of staff of the Air Force. The rapid turnover has sent shock waves through the US military, where continuity in senior positions has long been considered an asset.
The Trump administration, with Hegseth as US Defense Secretary, has aggressively reshaped military leadership. Some officials say the White House grew frustrated with Allvin’s handling of preparations for potential crises involving China. His departure fits a broader pattern of military restructuring during Trump’s new term.
One leading candidate to succeed him is Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Trump’s nominee for vice chief of staff of the Air Force. Bussiere currently commands Air Force Global Strike Command from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, overseeing the US nuclear arsenal. He has been praised by Pentagon appointees and played a role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Read more: China's rare earths restrictions affect Western defense firms: WSJ
Internal frustrations over China strategy
Officials said there had been growing dissatisfaction over Allvin’s approach to long-term planning for a possible security crisis involving China. Some insiders expressed surprise that his removal had not come sooner, given repeated tensions with administration priorities.
In a farewell statement, Allvin expressed gratitude to Trump, Hegseth, and US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink for the “opportunity to serve as the 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff.” He also praised Airmen for their “integrity, service, and excellence” in defending the United States.
Air Force Secretary Meink, who was confirmed in May, highlighted Allvin’s contributions, saying the service benefited from “transformational initiatives that will enable Airmen to answer their nation’s call for decades to come.” He added that Allvin had been “instrumental” in helping him transition into his role as secretary.
Allvin, who previously served three years as the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, leaves amid one of the most sweeping shake-ups in US military leadership in recent history, reflecting broader tensions between military leaders and the Trump administration’s direction for the Pentagon.
