Global InformationUnited States Southern Command information
| United States Southern Command | |
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| Founded | 11 June 1963 (60 years, 10 months ago) |
| Country |  United States |
| Type | Unified combatant command |
| Role | Geographic combatant command |
| Size | 1,200 personnel[1] |
| Part of | United States Department of Defense |
| Headquarters | Doral, Florida, U.S. |
| Engagements | Invasion of Panama Operation New Horizons Operation Unified Response Operation Continuing Promise United States invasion of Grenada Operation Uphold Democracy Operation Secure Tomorrow |
| Decorations |  Order of San Carlos[2] |
| Website | www.southcom.mil |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | General Laura J. Richardson, USA[3] |
| Military Deputy Commander | Vice Admiral Alvin Holsey, USN[4] |
| Civilian Deputy to the Commander | Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, DOS[5] |
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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.
- ^ "About USSOUTHCOM". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ Colombian President Visits, Thanks Southcom for its Support, DoD, dated 2018, last accessed 25 April 2018
- ^ "Gen. Laura J. Richardson". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Amb. Sarah-Ann Lynch". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics (PDF). US Army. 21 September 2004. pp. 5–36.
- ^ ADP 1-02 Terms and Military Symbols (PDF). US Army. 14 August 2018. pp. 4–8.
- ^ "About Us". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ See TITLE 10 > Subtitle A > PART I > CHAPTER 6 > § 164 for assignment, powers and duties.