Air Force chief of staff to retire after only 2 years in role

Desmond Milligan · August 19

The Air Force’s chief of staff, Gen. David Allvin, will retire in November after serving only two years of his four-year term, the service has announced, making him the latest senior military officer pushed out under the Trump administration.

The Air Force revealed the surprise move in a Monday statement, noting Allvin had “announced plans today to retire effective on or about Nov. 1.”

The release did not name a successor to be the Air Force’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, adding that Allvin will continue to serve until one is confirmed by the Senate.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as the 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff and I’m thankful for [Air Force Secretary Troy Meink], [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth] and President Trump’s faith in me to lead our service,” Allvin said in a statement.

“More than anything, I’m proud to have been part of the team of Airmen who live out our core values of integrity, service and excellence every day as we prepare to defend this great nation.”

The statement did not give a reason for Allvin’s abrupt retirement plans, but The Washington Post reported that he was informed last week that he would be asked to retire, as Hegseth wanted to go in another direction with the Air Force.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

Allvin’s looming departure follows a string of firings of other senior military officers in Trump’s second term, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. CQ Brown — who also did not serve his full four years — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan, and a slew of others serving in less prominent roles.

Allvin, who became Air Force chief of staff in 2023 after service as the vice chief of staff since November 2020, is a career mobility pilot with thousands of hours flying aircraft throughout his 39-year career.

In February 2024, Allvin and other Air Force officials revealed a sweeping reorganization plan in a bid to prepare the U.S. for a fight against China.

But Hegseth a year later ordered the Air Force to hold off on its changes to the service and its structure. In addition, the Pentagon chief has differed with Allvin on the future of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

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