Leadership of the United States Southern Command

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

• Alvin Holsey , Commander
  • Evan Pettus , Military Deputy Commander
    • Julie L. Nethercot , Chief of Staff
      • Jeff E. Elliott , Director, Manpower and Personnel (J1) ^[1]
      • Dustin A. Shultz , Director, Intelligence (J2) ^[2]
      • Brendan C. McPherson , Director, Operations (J3)
      • Douglas R. Burke , Director, Logistics (J4) ^[3]
      • Julian C. Cheater , Director, Plans and Policy (J5) ^[4]
      • Anne-Marie R. Wiersgalla , Director, Communication Systems (J6) ^[5]
      • Kevin J. Bostick , Director, Exercises and Coalition (J7/9) ^[6]
      • Adam Winkleman , Director, Resources and Analysis (J8) ^[7]
  • Javier A. Reina , Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs ^[8]

List of leaders of the United States Southern Command

Commanders

Commander of the United States Southern Command
Emblem of the United States Southern Command
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

No.	Commander		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Crittenberger, Willis D.Lieutenant General Willis D. Crittenberger (1890–1980)	November 1947	June 1948	~ 213 days	U.S. Army
2		Ridgway, Matthew B.Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgway (1895–1993)	June 1948	October 1949	~ 1 year, 122 days	U.S. Army
3		Morris Jr., William H. H.Lieutenant General William H. H. Morris Jr. (1890–1971)	October 1949	April 1952	~ 2 years, 183 days	U.S. Army
4		McBride, Horace L.Lieutenant General Horace L. McBride (1894–1962)	April 1952	June 1954	~ 2 years, 61 days	U.S. Army
5		Harrison Jr., William K.Lieutenant General William K. Harrison Jr. (1895–1987)	June 1954	January 1957	~ 2 years, 214 days	U.S. Army
6		Montague, Robert M.Lieutenant General Robert M. Montague (1899–1958)	January 1957	February 1958	~ 1 year, 31 days	U.S. Army
7		Gaither, RidgelyLieutenant General Ridgely Gaither (1903–1992)	April 1958	July 1960	~ 2 years, 91 days	U.S. Army
8		Sink, Robert F.Lieutenant General Robert F. Sink (1905–1965)	July 1960	January 1961	~ 184 days	U.S. Army
9		O'Meara, AndrewGeneral Andrew P. O'Meara (1907–2005)	6 January 1961	22 February 1965	4 years, 47 days	U.S. Army
10		Porter, RobertGeneral Robert W. Porter Jr. (1908–2000)	22 February 1965	18 February 1969	3 years, 362 days	U.S. Army
11		Mather, GeorgeGeneral George R. Mather (1911–1993)	18 February 1969	20 September 1971	2 years, 214 days	U.S. Army
12		Underwood, GeorgeGeneral George V. Underwood Jr. (1913–1984)	20 September 1971	17 January 1973	1 year, 119 days	U.S. Army
13		Rosson, WilliamGeneral William B. Rosson (1918–2004)	17 January 1973	1 August 1975	2 years, 196 days	U.S. Army
14		McAuliffe, DennisLieutenant General Dennis P. McAuliffe	1 August 1975	1 October 1979	4 years, 61 days	U.S. Army
15		Nutting, WallaceLieutenant General Wallace H. Nutting (1928–2023)	1 October 1979	24 May 1983	3 years, 235 days	U.S. Army
16		Gorman, PaulGeneral Paul F. Gorman (born 1927)	24 May 1983	1 March 1985	1 year, 281 days	U.S. Army
17		Galvin, JohnGeneral John R. Galvin (1929–2015)	1 March 1985	6 June 1987	2 years, 97 days	U.S. Army
18		Woerner, FrederickGeneral Frederick F. Woerner Jr. (1933–2023)	6 June 1987	1 October 1989	2 years, 117 days	U.S. Army
19		Thurman, MaxwellGeneral Maxwell R. Thurman (1931–1995)	1 October 1989	21 November 1990	1 year, 51 days	U.S. Army
20		Joulwan, GeorgeGeneral George A. Joulwan (born 1939)	21 November 1990	October 1993	~ 2 years, 314 days	U.S. Army
-		Worthington, W.Major General Walter T. Worthington Acting	October 1993	17 February 1994	~ 139 days	U.S. Air Force
21		McCaffrey, BarryGeneral Barry McCaffrey (born 1942)	17 February 1994	1 March 1996	2 years, 13 days	U.S. Army
-		Perkins, JamesRear Admiral James Perkins Acting	1 March 1996	26 June 1996	117 days	U.S. Navy
22		Clark, WesleyGeneral Wesley Clark (born 1944)	26 June 1996	13 July 1997	1 year, 17 days	U.S. Army
-		Doran, Walter F.Rear Admiral Walter F. Doran (born 1945) Acting	13 July 1997	25 September 1997	74 days	U.S. Navy
23		Wilhelm, CharlesGeneral Charles E. Wilhelm (born 1941)	25 September 1997	8 September 2000	2 years, 349 days	U.S. Marine Corps
24		Pace, PeterGeneral Peter Pace (born 1945)	8 September 2000	30 September 2001	1 year, 22 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Speer, GaryMajor General Gary D. Speer Acting	30 September 2001	18 August 2002	322 days	U.S. Army
25		Hill, JamesGeneral James T. Hill (born 1946)	18 August 2002	9 November 2004	2 years, 83 days	U.S. Army
26		Craddock, BantzGeneral Bantz J. Craddock (born 1949)	9 November 2004	19 October 2006	1 year, 344 days	U.S. Army
27		Stavridis, JamesAdmiral James G. Stavridis (born 1955)	19 October 2006	25 June 2009	2 years, 249 days	U.S. Navy
28		Fraser, DouglasGeneral Douglas M. Fraser (born 1953)	25 June 2009	19 November 2012	3 years, 147 days	U.S. Air Force
29		Kelly, JohnGeneral John F. Kelly (born 1950)	19 November 2012	14 January 2016	3 years, 56 days	U.S. Marine Corps
30		Tidd, KurtAdmiral Kurt W. Tidd (born 1956)	14 January 2016	26 November 2018	2 years, 316 days	U.S. Navy
31		Faller, CraigAdmiral Craig S. Faller (born 1961)	26 November 2018	29 October 2021	2 years, 337 days	U.S. Navy
32		Richardson, LauraGeneral Laura J. Richardson (born 1963)	29 October 2021	7 November 2024	3 years, 9 days	U.S. Army
33		Holsey, AlvinAdmiral Alvin Holsey (born 1965)	7 November 2024	Incumbent	302 days	U.S. Navy

Deputy commanders

No.	Deputy Commander		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
-		Smith, Jerome F. Jr.Rear Admiral Jerome F. Smith Jr. [11]	August 1990	~July 1994	~3 years, 334 days	U.S. Navy
-		Perkins, James B. IIIRear Admiral Walter T. Worthington [13]	July 1992	~July 1994	~2 years	U.S. Air Force
-		Perkins, James B. IIIRear Admiral James B. Perkins III [15]	July 1994	~December 1996	~2 years, 153 days	U.S. Navy
-		Doran, WalterRear Admiral Walter Doran [17] (born 1945)	December 1996	July 1998	~1 year, 212 days	U.S. Navy
-		Speer, GaryMajor General Gary D. Speer	July 2000	October 2002	~2 years, 92 days	U.S. Army
-		Spears, GlennLieutenant General Glenn Spears (born 1956)	June 2006	July 2009	~3 years, 30 days	U.S. Air Force
-		Keen, KenLieutenant General Ken Keen (born 1952)	2009	May 2011	~1 year, 319 days	U.S. Army
-		Kernan, Joseph D.Vice Admiral Joseph D. Kernan (born 1955)	May 2011	September 2013	~2 years, 123 days	U.S. Navy
-		Tovo, Kenneth E.Lieutenant General Kenneth E. Tovo (born 1961)	September 2013	June 2015	~1 year, 273 days	U.S. Army
-		DiSalvo, Joseph P.Lieutenant General Joseph P. DiSalvo (born 1965)	June 2015	August 2018	~3 years, 61 days	U.S. Army
-		Plehn, Michael T.Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn (born 1965)	22 October 2018	20 December 2020	2 years, 59 days	U.S. Air Force
-		Croft, Andrew A.Lieutenant General Andrew A. Croft (born 1965)	20 December 2020	1 February 2023	2 years, 43 days	U.S. Air Force
-		Holsey, AlvinVice Admiral Alvin Holsey (born 1965)	1 February 2023	7 November 2024	1 year, 280 days	U.S. Navy
-		Pettus, EvanLieutenant General Evan Pettus	7 November 2024	Incumbent	302 days	U.S. Air Force

Senior enlisted leaders

No.	Senior enlisted leader		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
-		Command Sergeant Major Michael M. Balch [19]	6 December 2004	~August 2009	~4 years, 252 days	U.S. Army
-		Sergeant Major Louis M. Espinal [21]	9 October 2009	~April 2012	~2 years, 189 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Command Sergeant Major Eric J. Geressy [23]	April 2012	August 2014	~1 year, 212 days	U.S. Army
-		Command Sergeant Major William B. Zaiser	~August 2014	6 January 2017	~2 years, 144 days	U.S. Army
-		Sergeant Major Bryan K. Zickefoose [25]	6 January 2017	17 August 2020	3 years, 224 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Command Sergeant Major Benjamin Jones	17 August 2020	6 September 2023	3 years, 20 days	U.S. Army
-		Sergeant Major Rafael Rodriguez [27]	6 September 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 364 days	U.S. Marine Corps

Chiefs of staff

No.	Chief of Staff		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
-		Major General Juan G. Ayala [29] (born 1956)	June 2010	May 2012	~1 year, 335 days	U.S. Marine Corps
-		Major General Joseph P. DiSalvo [31]	May 2012	June 2013	~1 year, 31 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Mark C. Nowland (born 1958)	June 2013	December 2014	~1 year, 183 days	U.S. Air Force
-		Major General Michael T. Plehn (born 1965)	January 2015	June 2017	~2 years, 151 days	U.S. Air Force
-		Major General Jon A. Norman [33]	June 2017	July 2018	~1 year, 30 days	U.S. Air Force
-		Major General Patricia M. Anslow [35]	July 2018	June 2020	~1 year, 336 days	U.S. Army
-		Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids [37] (born 1967)	June 2020	July 2022	~2 years, 30 days	U.S. Navy
-		Major General Scott A. Jackson [39] (born 1970)	July 2022	July 2024	~1 year, 352 days	U.S. Army
-		Major General Julie L. Nethercot	July 2024	Incumbent	~1 year, 66 days	U.S. Marine Corps

See also

• United States Southern Command
• Leadership of the United States Africa Command
• Leadership of the United States European Command
• Leadership of the United States Indo-Pacific Command
• Leadership of the United States Northern Command
• Leadership of the United States Space Command
• Leadership of the United States Cyber Command
• Leadership of the United States Strategic Command
• Leadership of the United States Transportation Command

References

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.
9. "DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, January 2021" (PDF). jcs.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
11. "General/flag officer worldwide roster" (PDF). December 1991. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2021.
13. "MAJOR GENERAL WALTER T. WORTHINGTON". Air Force.
15. "General/flag officer worldwide roster" (PDF). September 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2021.
17. "General/flag officer worldwide roster" (PDF). June 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021.
19. "Command Sergeant Major's Biography - U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)". 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009.
21. "Sergeant Major's Biography - U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)". Archived from the original on 24 November 2010.
23. "Not Found".{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
25. "Sergeant Major Bryan K. Zickefoose". U.S. Department of Defense.
27. "Sgt. Major Rafael Rodriguez assumes duties as U.S. Southern Command's Senior Enlisted Lead". U.S. Southern Command.
29. "Pages - Chief of Staff, SOUTHCOM". 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012.
31. "Chief of Staff, SOUTHCOM". 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013.
33. "MAJOR GENERAL JON A. NORMAN". Air Force.
35. "National Guard Biography". www.nationalguard.mil.
37. "Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids > U.S. Southern Command > Bio Article View". 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022.
39. "Maj. Gen. Scott A. Jackson". U.S. Southern Command.