SOUTHCOM Welcomes New Commander, Admiral Holsey

U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, incoming commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), takes the command guidon from U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, during the SOUTHCOM change-of-command ceremony in Doral, Florida, November 7, 2024. (Photo: Erica Bechard/SOUTHCOM)

U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, outgoing commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), is retiring after 38 years of service. “Individually we are strong, together we are invincible,” Gen. Richardson reminded the audience. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)

Defense and security leaders from 32 Latin American and Caribbean nations and other dignitaries attended the change of command ceremony at U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Fl., November 7, 2024. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)

From L: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. stand at attention with the incoming commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, and the outgoing commander, Army General Laura J. Richardson, during a change of command ceremony in Doral, Florida, November 7, 2024. (Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist First Class Samantha Oblander)

Outgoing U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) commander, U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, shakes the hand of Colonel Werner Guiseppe Kioe A Sen, commander of the Suriname Armed Forces, at the closing of the SOUTHCOM change of command ceremony in Doral, Fl., November 7, 2024. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)

The Chilean delegation, led by Chilean Army Major General Lionel Curti Santibáñez, deputy commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, center, pose for Diálogo, at the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) change of command ceremony, in Doral, Fl., November 7, 2024. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)

Partner nations’ defense and security leaders and other dignitaries from the region listen and smile as outgoing U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) commander, U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, gives her final remarks, highlighting their strong bonds of friendship, in Doral, Fl., November 7, 2024. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)

Admiral Francisco Hernando Cubides Granados (L), commander of the Colombian Military Forces, greets General EJ Cesar Augusto Moreno Landaira (R), commander of the Paraguayan Army, at the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) change of command ceremony, in Doral, Fl., November 7, 2024. (Photo: Luis Villegas/Diálogo)