Change of Command Digital Press Kit

U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson will assume duties as commander of U.S. Southern Command from U.S. Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller during a change-of-command ceremony 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at the command’s headquarters in Doral, Florida. This page provides resources for media outlets covering the ceremony.

Press Releases and Advisories

Oct. 15: SOUTHCOM to host change-of-command ceremony Oct. 29

Ceremony Program

Download SOUTHCOM Change of Command program

B-Roll clips highlighting SOUTHCOM missions

I. COUNTER TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

DOD_108294620:  Coast Guard Cutter Tampa boarding team interdicts a low profile vessel off the coast of Punta Gallinas, Colombia, April 9, 2021. A maritime patrol flight spotted the vessel and a law enforcement team from the cutter detained three suspects and discovered 87 bales of cocaine, resulting in approximately 5,500 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $94.6 million. (U.S. Coast Guard video).

DOD_107960565: A deployed helicopter interdiction tactical squadron team attached to Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton fires three warning shots across the bow of the drug vessel, July 21, 2020, Caribbean Sea. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District, headquartered in Alameda, California, and the law enforcement phase of operations in the Caribbean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 7th District, headquartered in Miami. (U.S. Coast Guard video)

DOD_107905980: The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Heriberto Hernandez (WPC-1114) offloads 55 bales of cocaine weighing 1,375 kilograms at Sector San Juan July 22, 2020. The $38.5 million shipment was seized and recovered from the Caribbean Sea July 16, 2020, following the disruption of a go-fast which led to the smugglers jettisoning the contraband overboard. The interdiction was the result of multi-agency efforts in support of U.S. Southern Command's enhanced counter-narcotics operation in the Western Hemisphere, and during Operation CASTNET II, in coordination with Joint Task Forces East (JTF-E). (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Villa Rodriguez)

II. DISASTER RELIEF

DOD_108053815: A U.S. Army HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew assigned to the 1-228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo rescues a Honduran family stranded on an island after high floodwater from Hurricane Eta near San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Nov. 5, 2020.

DOD_108052644: A U.S. Army HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew assigned to the 1-228th Aviation Regiment, Joint Task Force-Bravo rescues a Honduran child from Hurricane Eta’s high floodwaters at San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Nov. 6, 2020.

DOD_108593938: United States Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, deliver cases of food using an MV-22B Osprey in support of Joint Task Force-Haiti for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 27, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Caleb Stelter)

III. MULTINATIONAL AND BILATERAL EXERCISES

DOD_108607349: U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - UNITAS conduct airborne insert and simulated casualty evacuation drills with UH-1Y Venom helicopters during UNITAS LXII in Salinas, Peru, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2021. UNITAS is the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during Pacific, amphibious, and amazon operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility.

DOD_108406850: Members of the Guyana Defence Force and Dominican Republic Special Operations Force train in close quarters clearning techniques at Tradewinds while being advised by a member of the Florida National Guard 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade.

DOD_107615083: Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division conducted an Airborne operation alongside their Colombian partners assigned to the Colombian Army's 2nd Special Forces Battalion during a U.S. Southern Command led Dynamic Force Exercise in Tolemaida, Colombia, January 26, 2020.

DOD_108476174: U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and Colombian Air Force Kfirs conduct an aerial formation flyover during Exercise Relampago VI, over Colombia, July 27, 2021. Relampago VI is a combined Colombian and U.S. exercise taking place in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) theater that focuses on techniques, tactics and procedures to strengthen the longstanding partnership between our armed forces. (U.S. Air Force video by Senior Airman Duncan C. Bevan)

IV. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

DOD_107959166: SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Footage of three field hospitals, purchased by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and donated by the U.S. to the Costa Rican government Aug. 24. The donation, made on behalf of the American people, cost $1.1 million and was purchased as part of the SOUTHCOM Humanitarian Assistance Program's ongoing assistance to nations responding to the global pandemic in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In total, SOUTHCOM will donate 24 field hospitals to 11 countries in the coming weeks. (Video courtesy U.S. Embassy Costa Rica)

DOD_106460951: Three U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs deliver humanitarian aid from Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL to Cucuta, Colombia February 16, 2019. This mission was planned at the request of the U.S. Secretary of State, in close coordination with USAID and with the approval of the government of Colombia. The role of the U.S. military during this peaceful mission is to transport urgently needed aid to Colombia for eventual distribution by relief organizations on the ground for Venezuelans impacted by the rapidly deteriorating crisis in their country. This humanitarian mission underscores the United States’ firm commitment and readiness to respond to the man-made political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. (US Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Stout)

DOD_106247091: RIOHACHA, Colombia (Nov. 26, 2018) – The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is on an 11-week medical support mission to Central and South America as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative. Working with health and government partners in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Honduras, the embarked medical team will provide care on board and at land-based medical sites, helping to relieve pressure on national medical systems caused partly by an increase in cross-border migrants. The deployment reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Bigley/Released)

V. LEADERSHIP

DOD_108488102: The Senate Armed Services Committee considers Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson for commander of U.S. Southern Command.

DOD_107766855: Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, commanding general of U.S. Army North, visits the Javits New York Medical Station to tour the facility, meet with leadership, and view medical operations, April 12, 2020. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, is providing military support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities in need. (U.S. Army Video by Spc. Nathan Hammack)

DOD_108244548: Opening statement of U.S. Southern Command commander, Adm. Craig Faller during a joint press briefing with U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, commander Gen. Glen D. VanHerck from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 16, 2021.

DOD_106632988: Adm. Craig Faller, Commander of U.S. Southern Command is joined by Deputy Secretary Sullivan at SOUTHCOM to host a ministerial with Caribbean leaders launching the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership, a new collaborative effort to build regional capacity to confront disaster response and promote resilience. Leaders will discuss new opportunities for collaboration to enhance the region's preparedness and response efforts.

COMMANDER'S PRIORITIES