United States Southern Command

Not to be confused with United States Special Operations Command.
United States Southern Command
Founded11 June 1963
(61 years, 5 months ago)
Country United States
TypeUnified combatant command
RoleGeographic combatant command
Size1,200 personnel[1]
Part ofUnited States Department of Defense
HeadquartersDoral, Florida, U.S.
EngagementsUnited States invasion of Grenada
Invasion of Panama
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Secure Tomorrow
Operation New Horizons
Operation Unified Response
Operation Continuing Promise
Decorations Order of San Carlos[2]
Websitewww.southcom.mil
Commanders
CommanderAdmiral Alvin Holsey, USN[3]
Military Deputy CommanderLieutenant General Evan L. Pettus, USAF[4]
Civilian Deputy to the CommanderAmbassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, DOS[5]
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
NATO Map Symbol[6][7]
Unit Flag
United States
Armed Forces
Executive departments
Staff
Military departments
Military services
Command structure
Unified combatant commands
Combat support agencies
Combat Response Agencies
In this map, SOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility is shown in green letters

The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), located in Doral in Greater Miami, Florida, is one of the eleven unified combatant commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central and South America, the Caribbean (except U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions), their territorial waters, and for the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. USSOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and the canal area.[8]

Under the leadership of a four-star Commander, USSOUTHCOM is organized into a headquarters with six main directorates, component commands and military groups that represent SOUTHCOM in the region. USSOUTHCOM is a joint command[9] of more than 1,201 military and civilian personnel representing the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and several other federal agencies. Civilians working at USSOUTHCOM are, for the most part, civilian employees of the Army, as the Army is USSOUTHCOM's Combatant Command Support Agent. The Services provide USSOUTHCOM with component commands which, along with their Joint Special Operations component, two Joint Task Forces, one Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Cooperation Offices, perform USSOUTHCOM missions and security cooperation activities. USSOUTHCOM exercises its authority through the commanders of its components, Joint Task Forces/Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Cooperation Organizations.

  1. ^ "About USSOUTHCOM". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ^ Colombian President Visits, Thanks Southcom for its Support, DoD, dated 2018, last accessed 25 April 2018
  3. ^ "Adm. Alvin Holsey". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Amb. Sarah-Ann Lynch". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  6. ^ FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics (PDF). US Army. 21 September 2004. pp. 5–36.
  7. ^ ADP 1-02 Terms and Military Symbols (PDF). US Army. 14 August 2018. pp. 4–8.
  8. ^ "About Us". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  9. ^ See TITLE 10 > Subtitle A > PART I > CHAPTER 6 > § 164 for assignment, powers and duties.