Gen. David Allvin, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, announced his retirement effective November 1, 2025, after serving two years of his four-year term. The decision was unexpected and came without an official explanation. Allvin's early departure marks the latest in a series of senior military leadership changes during President Donald Trump's second term. Reports suggest that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has overseen multiple senior officer dismissals since January, may have influenced the decision, though it remains unclear if Allvin chose to retire voluntarily or was asked to step down. Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Allvin has been recognized for his advocacy of Air Force modernization and capability rebuilding. His retirement is part of a broader shake-up within the Pentagon's military leadership under the Trump administration.
Allvin’s surprise exit signals pivot for Air Force, not Hegseth pressure: sources https://t.co/9EPfrX7Jx7 by @audrey_decker9
🚨 BREAKING - PURGE: SecDef Pete Hegseth has officially fired the Biden head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Jeffrey Kruse... ...Kruse is the one who produced the "preliminary" report on the Iranian strikes that were LEAKED to the media, per WaPo. NOW it makes sense. https://t.co/znXNCRw3Lm
Hegseth fires DIA chief. maybe because Hegseth and Trump were embarrassed by reporting on a preliminary DIA assessment that said US strikes only set Iran nuclear program back a few months. https://t.co/aTpsnZPOQj