Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson will retire after more than four decades of service to U.S. military imperialism as a decorated Army officer and distinguished aviator who served in leadership roles in multiple assignments, as well as deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . She will be replaced as head of U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) by Vice Admiral Alvin Holsey , the Últimas Noticias website reported.
Holsey 's appointment had already been confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 24. Holsey will be promoted to the rank of admiral (four stars) before assuming command of the Southern Command , thus consolidating his rise as leader of the aforementioned military structure, according to a press release published by the Infodefensa.com website.
Holsey had been serving as deputy commander of the Southern Command and has operational and strategic experience. He has served on “security” missions in the Middle East. He will be the first African-American to lead that component since the organization assumed its mission more than six decades ago.
Holsey will take command on November 7, 2024, at the headquarters in Florida (Doral), "with the need to strengthen her country's security alliances, improve defense cooperation, and continue the fight against illicit activities, such as drug trafficking," according to Últimas Noticias.
It is worth remembering that "Richardson's career also included assignments as Military Assistant to the Vice President in the White House, Chief of Legislative Liaison for the Army with Congress and Army campaign planner at the Pentagon," as reported by the Panama newspaper Crítica.
The U.S. Southern Command is one of the six unified geographic commands that the Americans have. Its headquarters are located in Doral (Miami, Florida) , and it is responsible for carrying out military operations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Central America and South America, with the exception of the Bahamas , Mexico and Yankee territories, communities and possessions in the region.
Alvin Holsey , 59, is a native of Georgia and has been the deputy commander of the U.S. Southern Command since February 2023.
According to Infodefensa.com, Holsey was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy in 1988, through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program held at Morehouse College . He holds a degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Administration from Troy State University . In addition, Holsey is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College .
As a naval pilot, Holsey has completed numerous missions on US Navy frigates and cruisers, flying SH-2F Seasprite and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters.
He also commanded an Anti-Submarine Helicopter Squadron , the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and Carrier Strike Group One aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) .
Finally, it should be noted that Holsey was the officer who commanded the US Navy's first hybrid electric-powered warship.
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