SOUTHCOM Change of Command
Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey assumes duties as the new SOUTHCOM commander Nov. 7, relieving Gen. Laura J. Richardson, who is retiring after nearly four decades of service. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will preside.
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DoD Support to Haiti
The Department of Defense is providing support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.
WATCH: U.S. Army integrates M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System at Southern Fenix 24 exercise in Chile
The 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment (1-14 FAR) deployed to the Atacama Desert with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to conduct artillery training operations with the Chilean army during Southern Fenix 24.
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WATCH: U.S. military joins forces from 23 nations for UNITAS LXV exercise
The Chilean navy hosted this year's UNITAS, which featured 17 vessels, 2 submarines, 20 aircraft and more than 4,300 personnel from 24 partner nations.
More on UNITAS 2024
South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC) 2024
In Chile Aug. 27-29, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, and Gen. Laura Richardson joined with senior South American defense leaders to discuss leveraging new technologies to help confront regional threats.

LATEST NEWS AND RELEASES

Gen. Richardson meets with leaders in Guatemala
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo talks with Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), during a meeting between the leaders in Guatemala Oct. 23. The meeting, which included senior officials from both nations, focused on deepening the U.S.-Guatemala security partnership and cooperation to strengthen regional security and combat transnational criminal organizations. (Photo courtesy of Casa Presidencial, Guatemala)
Oct. 24, 2024 - Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), met with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and senior defense leaders during an official visit to Guatemala Oct. 22-24.
Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crew returns home, offloads approximately $115 million worth of drugs in St. Petersburg
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute unload interdicted narcotics onto Sector St. Petersburg South Moorings, Florida, Oct. 23, 2024. Armed Coast Guardsmen stood watch over the interdicted drugs to ensure security and accountability of the seized contraband. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)
Oct. 23, 2024 - ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute offloaded approximately 9,690 pounds of cocaine and 5,490 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $115 million, in their homeport of St. Petersburg, Wednesday.
Secretary Del Toro Travels to Argentina for the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas
Oct. 17, 2024 - From October 13-16, 2024, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro led the United States delegation to the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Mendoza, Argentina. CDMA is the premier defense forum in the Western Hemisphere, convening the senior most national security and defense officials biennially. This year's event featured discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and climate and environmental challenges from a defense perspective.
SOUTHCOM to host change-of-command ceremony Nov. 07
Official shield of U.S. Southern Command.
Oct. 15, 2024 - U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey is scheduled to assume duties as commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) from U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson during a change-of command ceremony 1 p.m. Nov. 7, 2024, at the command’s headquarters.
Honduran Minister of Defense Visits SOUTHCOM
U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Honduran Minister of Defense Rixi Moncada Godoy, walk to the entrance of the command's headquarters as honors are rendered. The minister visited SOUTHCOM in Miami to meet with command leaders to discuss regional security and the longstanding U.S.-Honduran security partnership. (Photo by Erica Bechard, U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs)
Oct. 7, 2024 - Honduran Minister of Defense Rixi Moncada Godoy visited U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Oct. 7 to meet with SOUTHCOM commander, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, and command leadership to discuss security cooperation.
U.S. Southern Command Donates Two Mobile Clinics to the People of Trinidad and Tobago
Sept. 19, 2024 - On September 18, the United States Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Humanitarian Assistance Program through the U.S. Embassy Port of Spain donated two mobile medical units, known as “Clinics in a Can,” valued at US$490,534 to the people of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Health.
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PHOTOS

Uniformed military personnel and a man in a suit talk at a conference table.
Uniformed military personnel and a man in a suit talk at a conference table.
Military personnel and a man in a suit talk at a conference table.
Uniformed military personnel sign an agreement at a table.
Uniformed military personnel sign an agreement at a table.
A female uniformed military officer speaks from a podium.
Two military personnel stand and pose for a photo in front of flags.
Three uniformed military personnel stand and pose for a photo in front of a building.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute transfer interdicted narcotics at sea during a routine Caribbean patrol. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute unload interdicted narcotics onto Sector St. Petersburg South Moorings, Florida, Oct. 23, 2024. Armed Coast Guardsmen stood watch over the interdicted drugs to ensure security and accountability of the seized contraband. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute unload interdicted narcotics onto Sector St. Petersburg South Moorings, Florida, Oct. 23, 2024. Armed Coast Guardsmen stood watch over the interdicted drugs to ensure security and accountability of the seized contraband. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)
Military officials sit around a conference table and talk.
A group of military personnel walk together and talk.
A woman in a white suit and two military personnel stand in front of flags for a group photo.
Military personnel greet a woman in a white suit.
A female military officer and a woman in a white suit walk a red carpet flanked by military personnel standing in formation with ceremonial rifles.
U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Honduran Minister of Defense Rixi Moncada Godoy, walk to the entrance of the command's headquarters as honors are rendered.
A look at Department of Defense support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, as of Oct. 7, 2024.
Military personnel talk while sitting at a table.
A group of naval personnel in white uniforms posing in a line for a photo.
A female military officer speaks from a podium.
A graphic detailing Department of Defense support to the Haiti airport security and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission preparation efforts, as of Sept. 19, 2024.
Silhouettes of parachutists in the sky and a mountain range are seen against a green sky in a night vision photo.
U.S. Marines Integrate with Brazilian Marines
U.S. Marines Integrate with Brazilian Marines
U.S. Marines Integrate with Brazilian Marines
Foreign liaison officers from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Chile attend a Change of Command and activation ceremony for Air Forces Southern at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sep. 11, 2024. The foreign liaison officers serve as direct conduits and integrate into AFSOUTH headquarters to represent their nation’s equities within the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)
A large group of ships and a submarine steam across a dark blue ocean on a partially cloudy day with a hazy horizon.
U.S. and international naval forces participate in UNITAS LXV off the coast of Chile.
U.s. and international naval forces participate in UNITAS LXV (65) off the coast of Chile.
A crew member from Coast Guard Cutter Diligence carries a bale of cocaine during a drug offload at Port Everglades, Florida, Sept. 9, 2024. The offload was a result of three separate drug interdictions by Coast Guard and international partner crews in the Caribbean Sea worth an estimated $54 million dollars. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez)
Crew members form U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 111 and British Royal Navy team embarked aboard HMS Trent (P244) interdicts a semi-submersible drug smuggling vessel in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea, Aug. 26, 2024. Three suspected smugglers and 1,239 pounds of illegal narcotics from this interdiction were transferred to federal custody for prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice. (Courtesy image from United Kingdom Royal Navy)
Combined Amphibious Raid: UNITAS 2024
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Lofgren observes flight operations during UNITAS LXV
Deputy commander for Marine Forces South and Marine Forces Reserve visits Expeditionary Advanced Base North: UNITAS 2024
U.S. Marine F/A-18s with VMFA-112 and KC-130J with VMGR-234 support UNITAS LXV
U.S. Marine F/A-18s with VMFA-112 and KC-130J with VMGR-234 support UNITAS LXV
Multinational Force UNITAS leaders receive mission update brief during Exercise UNITAS LXV
Multinational Force UNITAS leaders receive mission update brief during Exercise UNITAS LXV
A look at Department of Defense support to the Haiti airport security and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission preparation efforts, as of Sept. 6, 2024.
A person stands atop a armored vehicle.
Group photo of multinational military personnel.
A military officer speaks from a podium.
Military personnel sit around a table for a discussion.
Light Armored Vehicles Joint Live Fire Range: UNITAS 2024
U.S. Marines set up Expeditionary Advance Base with Chilean counterparts during Exercise UNITAS 2024
U.S. Marines set up Expeditionary Advance Base with Chilean counterparts during Exercise UNITAS 2024
U.S. Marines set up Expeditionary Advance Base with Chilean counterparts during Exercise UNITAS 2024
U.S. and Chilean Marine Leadership Receive Commanders Update Brief: UNITAS LXV
UNITAS 2024 Opening Ceremony

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SOUTHCOM STRATEGY

SOUTHCOM COMMANDER

Gen. Laura J. Richardson bio photo

Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson is the commander of U.S. Southern Command. She assumed command Oct. 29, 2021.

Gen. Richardson's Bio

 

TEAM SOUTHCOM button. Links to Team SOUTHCOM page.

A Network of Mutual Support: Total Engagement for All Members of U.S. Southern Command, or TEAM SOUTHCOM, is a command-sponsored organization that aims to support command service members, civilians and family members -- in South Florida and assigned throughout the region.