Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, left, incoming commander of U.S. Southern Command, takes the command guidon from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III during the SOUTHCOM change-of-command ceremony in Doral, Florida, on November 7, 2024. Holsey assumed command from Army Gen. Laura Richardson, who is retiring after 38 years of service. ERICA BECHARD/U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND
THE WATCH STAFF
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III stressed the power of U.S. partnerships “rooted in our shared values of democracy, human rights and opportunity for all” as he led the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) change-of-command ceremony November 7, 2024, in Doral, Florida. During the ceremony at command headquarters, the first woman to lead SOUTHCOM handed the reins to the first African American to take on the role.
U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey assumed the command from U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson after he was promoted to the rank of admiral before the ceremony. He previously served as the SOUTHCOM military deputy commander.
Austin presided over the event with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., defense and security leaders from 32 Latin American and Caribbean nations, and other officials in attendance.
Holsey’s career includes deployments aboard U.S. Navy frigates and cruisers, as well as missions flying SH-2F Seasprite and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters. He commanded a helicopter anti-submarine squadron; the U.S. Navy’s first hybrid electric propulsion warship, the USS Makin Island (LHD 8); and Carrier Strike Group 1 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, (CVN 70).
“At sea and ashore, the admiral’s teammates have admired his leadership and his work ethic,” Austin said. “And those who have worked for him have probably heard him say, ‘hard work is authorized.’ But he always made time for family as well. He’s encouraged his teammates to do the same. His whole career has prepared him for this new mission.”
“Throughout Adm. Holsey’s career, he has sometimes been the first. But he’s always been the best,” Austin said.
At the ceremony, Holsey reaffirmed SOUTHCOM’s commitment to strengthen partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean. “Partnerships are our best deterrence to countering shared security and economic concerns,” he said. “We will always be there for like-minded nations, who share our values, our democracy, our rule of law and human rights.”
Holsey warned against evolving threats. “Our adversaries have established a strong presence, jeopardizing security and stability across the Americas,” he said. “The People’s Republic of China and Russia … seek to undermine democracy while gaining power and influence in the region.”
Holsey committed to giving the SOUTHCOM team “everything I have” while asking for each team member’s personal best. “When the dark clouds come, and the days are long, the seas are rough, look no further than right here. I will lead you,” he said.
Holsey, a Georgia native, was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program in 1988 at Morehouse College, where he received a degree in computer science. In 1995, he earned a Master of Science in management from Troy State University, and in 2010, he attended the Joint Forces Staff College.
“To understand me is to understand the essence of survival,” Holsey said. “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or be killed. Every morning, a lion wakes up and knows he must outrun the slowest gazelle or starve to death. Doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or gazelle, when the sun comes up, you’d better be running. Let’s get running, team SOUTHCOM.”
Austin also emphasized the strength of U.S. partnerships in a perilous world.
“SOUTHCOM has built partnerships from the Caribbean and Central America to the Southern Cone. But some other countries have approached the region very differently.
“We know that the People’s Republic of China is out to expand its influence around the world — including the Americas. The PRC is working to exploit insecurity in our hemisphere and, as Gen. Richardson has put it, to ‘take advantage of the region’s need for economic investment to gain influence and advance [the PRC’s] malign agenda.’
“Now, the United States has a very different approach. You see, we’re working hard to strengthen full and respectful partnerships rooted in our shared values of democracy, human rights and opportunity for all.
“And every day — every day — SOUTHCOM proves that the United States is a friendly, capable neighbor. And as Gen. Richardson has also said, the United States is proud to be ‘the region’s most trusted defense and security partner.’”