U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson speaks during the change of command ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command in Doral
In her role at Southcom, Brown said, Richardson “deepened key relationships throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, to strengthen regional security, counter threats and build capacity to enhance mitigation, shared intelligence and joint military activities.”
During the ceremony, Holsey received the colors from Austin as a symbolic gesture to signify the passing of command from Richardson.
Some 900 people were invited to Thursday’s ceremony, which culminated a week of activities including Holsey’s promotion to admiral ahead of his taking the helm. Guests included chiefs of police, community leaders, U.S. and foreign ambassadors and newly re-elected Florida Republican lawmakers Mario Díaz-Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez.
.The State Department was represented by Mark Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere and Assistant Secretary of State Todd Robinson, who oversees the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. The event also marked Richardson’s retirement after 38 years in the military.
Richardson’s career has included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and stints as military aide to the vice president at the White house, chief of the Army legislative liaison to Congress and U.S. Army campaign planner at the Pentagon.
From left to right, U.S. Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson, her husband Lt. Gen. James M. Richardson, and their daughter Lauren Richardson as the U.S. Army General is presented a retirement flag during the change of command ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command in Doral.
In honor of her service, she was given an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon. Joining her as she received the retirement flag were her husband, retired Army Lt. Gen. James M. Richardson, and their daughter Lauren Richardson.
In saluting her leadership over nearly four decades, both Brown and Austin singled out Richardson and Southcom’s work in the region. This included strengthening the Colombian military and Panama’s border forces engaged in the fight to curb illegal migration through the Darien gap.
“Over the course of my 38 years in the military, I’ve received a lot of coaching and mentoring by so many. As we all know in our line of work, people are the greatest asset in the military, and I’ve been honored to lead, and have been led by some of the most amazing leaders,” Richardson said.
U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey receives the colors from U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III during the change of command ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command in Doral
“The challenges we collectively face are too great to take on alone. Our strength and success rests upon all of us working together as team democracy,” she said. “The security, stability and prosperity remains a collective responsibility of all of us.”
Austin highlighted the outsized role Richardson and Holsey, who had served as military deputy commander at Southcom since February 2023, played earlier this year in coordinating critical logistics into Haiti. Together, they helped evacuated U.S. diplomats under gunfire, set up a military base for the Kenya-led multinational security support force and assisted in the reopening of the international airport in Port-au-Prince, which allowed for the safe arrival of the Kenyan troops.
“Haiti is struggling to restore security, to end widespread gang violence and hold free and fair elections,” Austin said. “We’ll continue to support Haitian security forces as they re-establish safety and stability for the Haitian people.”
U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey will take over as head of the U.S. Southern Command in Doral
In his acceptance speech Holsey dedicated himself to continuing to strengthen the region’s partnerships.
Austin said Holsey, a Georgia native and Morehouse College graduate, is “a stellar leader” who is “well prepared to accept the roles and responsibilities” required at Southcom’s helm. “He’s demonstrated operational excellence worldwide, deploying multiple times on nine shifts and commanding carrier strike and deployment.“
“He leads with compassion and empathy,” Austin said.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=672d73e80d454e53bf5a9d46b59dfe01&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Ffirst-woman-head-southcom-steps-020202664.html&c=1030729448517788114&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-11-07 13:06:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
