WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has tapped the vice commander of US Special Operations Command to become the next commander of US Southern Command, where he will oversee operations in the Caribbean that have included more than two dozen fatal strikes on boats alleged to have been smuggling drugs.
If confirmed by the Senate, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan will pin on a fourth star and replace Adm. Alvin Holsey, who retired last week. Holsey, who in October announced his intention to retire, has not publicly given a reason for his early retirement, but one current and one former US official told The New York Times that Holsey had raised concerns about the attacks on the alleged drug boats.
According to his official biography, Donovan is an infantry, reconnaissance, and special operations officer whose command experience includes leading a Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team and Marine Expeditionary Unit, among other roles.