Gen. David Allvin, the Air Force’s chief of staff, announced his retirement on Monday just halfway through his four-year term, becoming the fourth U.S. military service chief to depart since President Donald Trump took office.
In an official statement announcing the news, Allvin did not give a reason for his early departure but said he would be leaving in the fall after a replacement was confirmed.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as the 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff and I’m thankful for Secretary Meink, Secretary Hegseth and President Trump’s faith in me to lead our service,” Allvin said in the 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.”
Allvin previously expressed support for the Trump administration’s changes to the Department of Defense, most recently appearing alongside Trump in April when he unveiled plans for “the world’s sixth generation fighter jet,” dubbed the F-47.
During the April press conference Trump said Allvin was an “incredible” person whom he had gotten “closer with over the last few months.”
Allvin is a command pilot with more than 4,600 hours of flight time in over 30 aircraft, according to his Air Force biography. A four-star general, Allvin graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986 and held major staff positions including on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
While Allvin’s retirement marks the shortest tenure of an Air Force chief in nearly 30 years, he isn’t the first high-ranking military official to part ways with the administration.
In the first months of his administration, Trump directed the firings of Coast Guard commandant Adm. Linda Fagan, Gen. C.Q. Brown as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Gen. James Slife as the Air Force’s vice chief of staff.
A senior Air Force officer told Politico they were surprised at the announcement, saying there were no signs or rumors of Allvin stepping down so early. “I don’t know what this is about — he’s a great leader and this is going to be another transition in the building that has seen plenty of it recently.”