U.S. Southern Command Archives | DefenseScoop

U.S. Southern Command

Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, vice commander, United States Special Operations Command speaks with a Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operator and a Navy Diver during a visit to Naval Special Warfare Group 1 in San Diego, Feb. 11, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Rowe)

Trump taps Marine general to lead Southcom amid controversial boat strikes, Venezuela campaign

Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan currently serves as the vice commander for U.S. Special Operations Command.

Dec 19, 2025 By Drew F. Lawrence

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan (DDG 72), left, and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) sail in formation as an F/A-18 Super Hornet, assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight embarked aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), descends on final approach to land on the aircraft carrier, Nov. 13, 2025. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Triniti Lersch)

Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear after 20th US strike against alleged ‘narco-terrorists’

Pete Hegseth unveiled a large-scale military and surveillance operation in the Southcom AOR that will commence later this month.

Nov 14, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Ecuadorian Chief of Defense Gen. Henry Delgado Salvador sign a Communication Information Security Memorandum of Agreement in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, September 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Ecuador)

Hegseth announces, without explanation, that Southcom commander Adm. Holsey is retiring

No explanation was given for Holsey’s retirement.

Oct 16, 2025 By Jon Harper

Gen. Laura Richardson, Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, and DIU Director Beck meet with colleagues and counterparts in Chile. (DIU Photo)

DIU chief joins military leaders in Chile to discuss emerging technology priorities

Doug Beck briefed DefenseScoop on his recent trip.

Aug 30, 2024 By Brandi Vincent

Gen. Richardson joins Guyana leadership and foreign dignitaries to speak on TRADEWINDS ’23 at Camp Stephenson, Guyana, July 26, 2023. TRADEWINDS is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, as well as increase all participants’ training capacity and capability to mitigate, plan for and respond to crises and security threats. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Taeckens)

Head of Southern Command warns of China’s growing technological grip in region

Gen. Laura Richardson is concerned about Beijing's infrastructure investments in Latin America.

Aug 4, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

Members of the 56th Air and Space Communications Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam operate cyber systems using a Enhanced communications flyaway kit during the Global Information Dominance Experiment 3 and Architect Demonstration Evaluation 5 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Michigan, July, 12, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy Picard)

US Space Command created new ‘information warfare’ position dedicated to synchronizing and coordinating capabilities

Each of the combatant commands have organized in their own way for operations in the information environment.

May 16, 2023 By Mark Pomerleau