Leadership of the United States Southern Command

Commander of the United States Southern Command
Commander of the United States Southern Command
	File:Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg Emblem of the United States Southern Command
	File:ADM Alvin Holsey.jpg Incumbent; Admiral Alvin Holsey, USN; since 7 November 2024
	United States Department of Defense
Type	Unified combatant commander
Abbreviation	CDRUSSOUTHOM
Reports to	President of the United States; Secretary of Defense
Seat	MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, U.S.
Nominator	Secretary of Defense
Appointer	The President; with Senate advice and consent
Term length	2–3 years; (approx.)
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 167
Formation	November 1947
First holder	Willis D. Crittenberger
Deputy	Deputy Commander, United States Southern Command

File:Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg

Seal of the United States Southern Command

This is a list of all commanders, deputy commanders, senior enlisted leaders, and chiefs of staff of the United States Southern Command.

Current combatant command staff

File:US Navy O10 infobox.svg Alvin Holsey, Commander
- File:US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Evan Pettus, Military Deputy Commander
  - File:US Marine O8 shoulderboard.svg Julie L. Nethercot, Chief of Staff
    - File:US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Jeff E. Elliott, Director, Manpower and Personnel (J1)^[1]
    - File:Army-USA-OF-07.svg Dustin A. Shultz, Director, Intelligence (J2)^[2]
    - File:USCG O-8 shoulderboard.svg Brendan C. McPherson, Director, Operations (J3)
    - File:US Marine O6 shoulderboard.svg Douglas R. Burke, Director, Logistics (J4)^[3]
    - File:US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Julian C. Cheater, Director, Plans and Policy (J5)^[4]
    - File:Army-USA-OF-05.svg Anne-Marie R. Wiersgalla, Director, Communication Systems (J6)^[5]
    - File:Flag of the United States Senior Executive Service.svg Kevin J. Bostick, Director, Exercises and Coalition (J7/9)^[6]
    - File:Flag of the United States Senior Executive Service.svg Adam Winkleman, Director, Resources and Analysis (J8)^[7]
- File:Army-USA-OF-07.svg Javier A. Reina, Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs^[8]

List of commanders of the United States Southern Command

No.	Commander		Term			Service branch
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length	Service branch
1	Willis D. Crittenberger	Crittenberger, Willis D.Lieutenant General Willis D. Crittenberger (1890–1980)	November 1947	June 1948	~ 213 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
2	Matthew B. Ridgway	Ridgway, Matthew B.Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway (1895–1993)	June 1948	October 1949	~ 1 year, 122 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
3	William H. H. Morris Jr.	Morris Jr., William H. H.Lieutenant General William H. H. Morris Jr. (1890–1971)	October 1949	April 1952	~ 2 years, 183 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
4	Horace L. McBride	McBride, Horace L.Lieutenant General Horace L. McBride (1894–1962)	April 1952	June 1954	~ 2 years, 61 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
5	William K. Harrison Jr.	Harrison Jr., William K.Lieutenant General William K. Harrison Jr. (1895–1987)	June 1954	January 1957	~ 2 years, 214 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
6	Robert M. Montague	Montague, Robert M.Lieutenant General Robert M. Montague (1899–1958)	January 1957	February 1958	~ 1 year, 31 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
7	Ridgely Gaither	Gaither, RidgelyLieutenant General Ridgely Gaither (1903–1992)	April 1958	July 1960	~ 2 years, 91 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
8	Robert F. Sink	Sink, Robert F.Lieutenant General Robert F. Sink (1905–1965)	July 1960	January 1961	~ 184 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
9	Andrew P. O'Meara	O'Meara, AndrewGeneral Andrew P. O'Meara (1907–2005)	6 January 1961	22 February 1965	4 years, 47 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
10	Robert W. Porter Jr.	Porter, RobertGeneral Robert W. Porter Jr. (1908–2000)	22 February 1965	18 February 1969	3 years, 362 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
11	George R. Mather	Mather, GeorgeGeneral George R. Mather (1911–1993)	18 February 1969	20 September 1971	2 years, 214 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
12	George V. Underwood Jr.	Underwood, GeorgeGeneral George V. Underwood Jr. (1913–1984)	20 September 1971	17 January 1973	1 year, 119 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
13	William B. Rosson	Rosson, WilliamGeneral William B. Rosson (1918–2004)	17 January 1973	1 August 1975	2 years, 196 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
14	Dennis P. McAuliffe	McAuliffe, DennisLieutenant General Dennis P. McAuliffe	1 August 1975	1 October 1979	4 years, 61 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
15	Wallace H. Nutting	Nutting, WallaceLieutenant General Wallace H. Nutting (born 1928)	1 October 1979	24 May 1983	3 years, 235 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
16	Paul F. Gorman	Gorman, PaulGeneral Paul F. Gorman (born 1927)	24 May 1983	1 March 1985	1 year, 281 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
17	John R. Galvin	Galvin, JohnGeneral John R. Galvin (1929–2015)	1 March 1985	6 June 1987	2 years, 97 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
18	Frederick F. Woerner Jr.	Woerner, FrederickGeneral Frederick F. Woerner Jr. (born 1933)	6 June 1987	1 October 1989	2 years, 117 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
19	Maxwell R. Thurman	Thurman, MaxwellGeneral Maxwell R. Thurman (1931–1995)	1 October 1989	21 November 1990	1 year, 51 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
20	George A. Joulwan	Joulwan, GeorgeGeneral George A. Joulwan (born 1939)	21 November 1990	October 1993	~ 2 years, 314 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Walter T. Worthington	Worthington, W.Major General Walter T. Worthington Acting	October 1993	17 February 1994	~ 139 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
21	Barry McCaffrey	McCaffrey, BarryGeneral Barry McCaffrey (born 1942)	17 February 1994	1 March 1996	2 years, 13 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	James Perkins	Perkins, JamesRear Admiral James Perkins Acting	1 March 1996	26 June 1996	117 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
22	Wesley Clark	Clark, WesleyGeneral Wesley Clark (born 1944)	26 June 1996	13 July 1997	1 year, 17 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Walter F. Doran	Doran, Walter F.Rear Admiral Walter F. Doran (born 1945) Acting	13 July 1997	25 September 1997	74 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
23	Charles E. Wilhelm	Wilhelm, CharlesGeneral Charles E. Wilhelm (born 1941)	25 September 1997	8 September 2000	2 years, 349 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps
24	Peter Pace	Pace, PeterGeneral Peter Pace (born 1945)	8 September 2000	30 September 2001	1 year, 22 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps
-	Gary D. Speer	Speer, GaryMajor General Gary D. Speer Acting	30 September 2001	18 August 2002	322 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
25	James T. Hill	Hill, JamesGeneral James T. Hill (born 1946)	18 August 2002	9 November 2004	2 years, 83 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
26	Bantz J. Craddock	Craddock, BantzGeneral Bantz J. Craddock (born 1949)	9 November 2004	19 October 2006	1 year, 344 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
27	James G. Stavridis	Stavridis, JamesAdmiral James G. Stavridis (born 1955)	19 October 2006	25 June 2009	2 years, 249 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
28	Douglas M. Fraser	Fraser, DouglasGeneral Douglas M. Fraser (born 1953)	25 June 2009	19 November 2012	3 years, 147 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
29	John F. Kelly	Kelly, JohnGeneral John F. Kelly (born 1950)	19 November 2012	14 January 2016	3 years, 56 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps
30	Kurt W. Tidd	Tidd, KurtAdmiral Kurt W. Tidd (born 1956)	14 January 2016	26 November 2018	2 years, 316 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
31	Craig S. Faller	Faller, CraigAdmiral Craig S. Faller (born 1961)	26 November 2018	29 October 2021	2 years, 337 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
32	Laura J. Richardson	Richardson, LauraGeneral Laura J. Richardson (born 1963)	29 October 2021	7 November 2024	3 years, 9 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
33	Alvin Holsey	Holsey, AlvinAdmiral Alvin Holsey (born 1965)	7 November 2024	Incumbent	76 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy

List of military deputy commanders of the United States Southern Command

No.	Deputy Commander		Term			Service branch
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length	Service branch
-	Jerome F. Smith Jr.[10]	Smith, Jerome F. Jr.Rear Admiral Jerome F. Smith Jr.^[10]	August 1990	~July 1994	~3 years, 334 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
-	Walter T. Worthington[11]	Perkins, James B. IIIRear Admiral Walter T. Worthington^[11]	July 1992	~July 1994	~2 years	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	James B. Perkins III[12]	Perkins, James B. IIIRear Admiral James B. Perkins III^[12]	July 1994	~December 1996	~2 years, 153 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
-	Walter Doran[13]	Doran, WalterRear Admiral Walter Doran^[13] (born 1945)	December 1996	July 1998	~1 year, 212 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
-	Gary D. Speer	Speer, GaryMajor General Gary D. Speer	July 2000	October 2002	~2 years, 92 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Glenn Spears	Spears, GlennLieutenant General Glenn Spears (born 1956)	June 2006	July 2009	~3 years, 30 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	Ken Keen	Keen, KenLieutenant General Ken Keen (born 1952)	2009	May 2011	~1 year, 319 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Joseph D. Kernan	Kernan, Joseph D.Vice Admiral Joseph D. Kernan (born 1955)	May 2011	September 2013	~2 years, 123 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
-	Kenneth E. Tovo	Tovo, Kenneth E.Lieutenant General Kenneth E. Tovo (born 1961)	September 2013	June 2015	~1 year, 273 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Joseph P. DiSalvo	DiSalvo, Joseph P.Lieutenant General Joseph P. DiSalvo (born 1965)	June 2015	August 2018	~3 years, 61 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Michael T. Plehn	Plehn, Michael T.Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn (born 1965)	22 October 2018	20 December 2020	2 years, 59 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	Andrew A. Croft	Croft, Andrew A.Lieutenant General Andrew A. Croft (born 1965)	20 December 2020	1 February 2023	2 years, 43 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	Alvin Holsey	Holsey, AlvinVice Admiral Alvin Holsey (born 1965)	1 February 2023	7 November 2024	1 year, 280 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
-	Evan Pettus	Pettus, EvanLieutenant General Evan Pettus	7 November 2024	Incumbent	76 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force

List of senior enlisted leaders of the United States Southern Command

No.	Senior enlisted leader		Term			Service branch
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length	Service branch
-	Michael M. Balch[14]	Command Sergeant Major Michael M. Balch^[14]	6 December 2004	~August 2009	~4 years, 252 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Louis M. Espinal[15]	Sergeant Major Louis M. Espinal^[15]	9 October 2009	~April 2012	~2 years, 189 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps
-	Eric J. Geressy[16]	Command Sergeant Major Eric J. Geressy^[16]	April 2012	August 2014	~1 year, 212 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	William B. Zaiser	Command Sergeant Major William B. Zaiser	~August 2014	6 January 2017	~2 years, 144 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Bryan K. Zickefoose[17]	Sergeant Major Bryan K. Zickefoose^[17]	6 January 2017	17 August 2020	3 years, 224 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps
-	Benjamin Jones	Command Sergeant Major Benjamin Jones	17 August 2020	6 September 2023	3 years, 20 days	File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Rafael Rodriguez[18]	Sergeant Major Rafael Rodriguez^[18]	6 September 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 138 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps

List of chiefs of staff of the United States Southern Command

No.	Chief of Staff		Term			Service branch
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length	Service branch
-	Juan G. Ayala[19]	Major General Juan G. Ayala^[19] (born 1956)	June 2010	May 2012	~1 year, 335 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps
-	Joseph P. DiSalvo[20]	Major General Joseph P. DiSalvo^[20]	May 2012	June 2013	~1 year, 31 days	File:Mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Mark C. Nowland	Major General Mark C. Nowland (born 1958)	June 2013	December 2014	~1 year, 183 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	Michael T. Plehn	Major General Michael T. Plehn (born 1965)	January 2015	June 2017	~2 years, 151 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	Jon A. Norman[21]	Major General Jon A. Norman^[21]	June 2017	July 2018	~1 year, 30 days	File:U.S. Air Force service mark.svg U.S. Air Force
-	Patricia M. Anslow[22]	Major General Patricia M. Anslow^[22]	July 2018	June 2020	~1 year, 336 days	File:Mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Yvette M. Davids[23]	Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids^[23] (born 1967)	June 2020	July 2022	~2 years, 30 days	File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg U.S. Navy
-	Scott A. Jackson[24]	Major General Scott A. Jackson^[24] (born 1970)	July 2022	July 2024	~1 year, 352 days	File:Mark of the United States Army.svg U.S. Army
-	Julie L. Nethercot	Major General Julie L. Nethercot	July 2024	Incumbent	~205 days	File:Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg U.S. Marine Corps

References

↑ "J1 Manpower and Personnel". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J2 Intelligence". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J4 Logistics". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J5 Strategy, Policy, and Plans". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J6 Communication Systems". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J7/9 Exercises and Coalition Affairs Directorate". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J8 Resources & Analysis". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "Maj. Gen. Javier A. Reina". www.southcom.mil.
↑ "DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, January 2021" (PDF). jcs.mil. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
↑ https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA245845.pdf
↑ "MAJOR GENERAL WALTER T. WORTHINGTON". Air Force.
↑ https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA316653.pdf
↑ https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA350989.pdf
↑ "Command Sergeant Major's Biography - U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)". 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009.
↑ "Sergeant Major's Biography - U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)". Archived from the original on 24 November 2010.
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20121031153211/http://www.southcom.mil/aboutus/Pages/Sergeant-Major-Eric-J-Geressy.aspx
↑ "Sergeant Major Bryan K. Zickefoose". U.S. Department of Defense.
↑ "Sgt. Major Rafael Rodriguez assumes duties as U.S. Southern Command's Senior Enlisted Lead". U.S. Southern Command.
↑ "Pages - Chief of Staff, SOUTHCOM". 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012.
↑ "Chief of Staff, SOUTHCOM". 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013.
↑ "MAJOR GENERAL JON A. NORMAN". Air Force.
↑ "National Guard Biography". www.nationalguard.mil.
↑ "Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids > U.S. Southern Command > Bio Article View". 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022.
↑ "Maj. Gen. Scott A. Jackson". U.S. Southern Command.

[1] "J1 Manpower and Personnel". www.southcom.mil.

[2] "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J2 Intelligence". www.southcom.mil.

[3] "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J4 Logistics". www.southcom.mil.

[4] "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J5 Strategy, Policy, and Plans". www.southcom.mil.

[5] "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J6 Communication Systems". www.southcom.mil.

[6] "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J7/9 Exercises and Coalition Affairs Directorate". www.southcom.mil.

[7] "U.S. Southern Command > About > Leadership > J8 Resources & Analysis". www.southcom.mil.

[8] "Maj. Gen. Javier A. Reina". www.southcom.mil.

[JCS_Dictionary-9] "DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, January 2021" (PDF). jcs.mil. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

[10] ttps://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA245845.pdf

[11] "MAJOR GENERAL WALTER T. WORTHINGTON". Air Force.

[12] ttps://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA316653.pdf

[13] ttps://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA350989.pdf

[14] "Command Sergeant Major's Biography - U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)". 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009.

[15] "Sergeant Major's Biography - U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)". Archived from the original on 24 November 2010.

[16] ttps://web.archive.org/web/20121031153211/http://www.southcom.mil/aboutus/Pages/Sergeant-Major-Eric-J-Geressy.aspx

[17] "Sergeant Major Bryan K. Zickefoose". U.S. Department of Defense.

[18] "Sgt. Major Rafael Rodriguez assumes duties as U.S. Southern Command's Senior Enlisted Lead". U.S. Southern Command.

[19] "Pages - Chief of Staff, SOUTHCOM". 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012.

[20] "Chief of Staff, SOUTHCOM". 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013.

[21] "MAJOR GENERAL JON A. NORMAN". Air Force.

[22] "National Guard Biography". www.nationalguard.mil.

[23] "Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids > U.S. Southern Command > Bio Article View". 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022.

[24] "Maj. Gen. Scott A. Jackson". U.S. Southern Command.

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Leadership of the United States Southern Command

Contents

Current combatant command staff

List of commanders of the United States Southern Command

List of military deputy commanders of the United States Southern Command

List of senior enlisted leaders of the United States Southern Command

List of chiefs of staff of the United States Southern Command

See also

References

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Commander of the United States Southern Command
File:Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg Emblem of the United States Southern Command
File:ADM Alvin Holsey.jpg Incumbent Admiral Alvin Holsey, USN since 7 November 2024
United States Department of Defense
Type	Unified combatant commander
Abbreviation	CDRUSSOUTHOM^[9]
Reports to	President of the United States Secretary of Defense
Seat	MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, U.S.
Nominator	Secretary of Defense
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	2–3 years (approx.)
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 167
Formation	November 1947
First holder	Willis D. Crittenberger
Deputy	Deputy Commander, United States Southern Command