Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at U.S. Southern Command's Change of Command Ceremony (As Delivered)

Good afternoon, everyone.

I don't think there's anybody out there, Laura.

Let's try that again.

Good afternoon, SOUTHCOM!

[Cheers]

Alright, alright.

You know, I spent years stationed in Florida. So coming back to Florida feels like coming home.

And it's an honor to have so many distinguished guests joining us, including state and local leaders, members of Congress, ambassadors and ministers of defense from Latin America and the Caribbean, DOD leaders past and present, and more.

And by the way, there's two pretty good DOD leaders that I served with that are in the crowd. I see Admiral Craig Faller out there. And I know Admiral Michelle Howard is in the crowd somewhere. Michelle? But these are two-there you go. These are two pretty good sailors.

[Applause]

You know, our United States Navy's doing great things, especially in the Red Sea currently. And I know Craig and Michelle spent a lot of time on surface combatants. Probably never got into the kinds of fights that we're seeing our sailors get in today. And they are performing magnificently.

And a part of that's got to do with the training and discipline that you instilled as senior officers when you were wearing the uniform. So thanks for being here. It's great to see you.

Secretary Del Toro, I know you're-there you go. Thanks for being here.

[Applause]

It's great to see you. And I know you take great pride in the way our United States Navy is performing all around the globe today.

[Inaudible from the audience]

Oh.

[Laughter]

General Brown…

[Inaudible from the audience]

[Laughter]

Thanks for your remarks, and thanks for your outstanding leadership as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

And please join me in giving a warm welcome to the families of General Laura Richardson and Admiral Alvin Holsey.

[Applause]

General Richardson, thanks for all that you've done to strengthen security and stability across the Americas.

And we're lucky to have Admiral Holsey taking the helm.

You know, above all, this is-this is about the brave men and women of U.S. Southern Command.

I want to thank you for defending our country with such patriotism and professionalism. Let's give SOUTHCOM a round of applause.

[Applause]

Every day, SOUTHCOM keeps the watch throughout our hemisphere.

This hemisphere is home to so many growing economies and vibrant democracies. But your AOR also includes pressing security challenges, including transnational crime, irregular migration, fundraising by transnational terrorist groups, and natural disasters fueled by climate change.

And so on every level, SOUTHCOM's mission is close to home.

SOUTHCOM is focused on three priorities: strengthening partnerships, countering threats, and building this team.

And under General Richardson's leadership, that's exactly what SOUTHCOM has done.

You know, when she took command, the world was still emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. And SOUTHCOM had suspended nearly all of its joint exercises in 2020 and 2021 in order to protect our troops. And SOUTHCOM had provided crucial equipment and aid to help our partners beat the pandemic.

So General Richardson led the charge to safely re-engage. And on her watch, SOUTHCOM conducted 24 joint exercises. And all told, U.S. forces trained alongside nearly 40,000 participants from some 36 countries.

Those exercises strengthen interoperability. They foster trust. And they forge stronger partnerships across the region. And that makes everybody more secure.

And those strong ties are crucial to helping our neighbors.

You know, right now, Haiti is struggling to restore security and opportunity for its people, to end widespread gang violence, and to hold free and fair elections next year.

SOUTHCOM and the Department continue to support the U.N.-authorized Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. And SOUTHCOM has coordinated critical logistics to help this Kenyan-led U.N. mission ease the misery in Haiti.

Together, we've helped to reestablish security at the airport in Port-au-Prince. And that let security forces from Kenya and other countries safely arrive in Haiti. And we'll continue to support the Haitian security forces as they reestablish safety and stability for the Haitian people.

SOUTHCOM has also led the Department's work to strengthen the Colombian military and the Panamanian National Border Service. And that has helped these countries counter the transnational criminal groups operating throughout the Darien region, at a time of huge migration and vast humanitarian challenges.

With our partners in the region, and alongside our teammates across the U.S. government, SOUTHCOM helps detect and monitor the trafficking of illicit drugs throughout the Americas. That helps law-enforcement partners interdict the flow of illegal drugs. And last year alone, this team effort helped stop hundreds of tons of illegal narcotics-worth more than $7 billion-from reaching America's shores.

Now, 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 General 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 General Richardson has also said, the United States is proud to be "the region's most trusted defense and security partner."

So SOUTHCOM, you've got a lot to be proud of.

But you know, progress doesn't just happen. It took skill, teamwork, and the visionary leadership of General Richardson.

She has always shown grit, audacity, and a deep dedication to the mission.

Now, for Laura, as you heard earlier, service is a family tradition. And so is excellence.

Her dad, Jan Strickland, served in the Army Reserve. And I'm told that he turned 90 earlier this month.

Her mom, Suzanne, worked as a teacher. And they both inspired their kids to work hard, to excel, and to be all that they could be. And two of Laura's siblings, Darwin and Janis, also served in the Army, deploying both to Iraq and Afghanistan.

So this is a tremendous military family. Let's give them another round of applause.

[Applause]

Now, throughout General Richardson's life, she didn't just beat expectations. She set entirely new expectations for everybody else.

As a teenager, when her friends were out getting their driver's licenses, Laura earned her private pilot's license.

As you heard the Chairman say, she didn't just win races at the local swim meets. She set new state records.

And after commissioning through Army ROTC, she continued to fly. And in flight school, she met another Army aviator named Jim.

And after moves all around the world and multiple deployments to war zones, Jim and Laura have always been a phenomenal team.

They were the first married couple in the history of the United States military to serve as battalion commanders in combat together.

They've always had each other's backs.

And Jim had a tremendous career himself, retiring from the Army as a lieutenant general. So Jim, thanks for your decades of service.

[Applause]

And together, they have raised an amazing daughter, Lauren.

They've redefined what it means to be helicopter parents.

[Laughter]

Just checking to see if you're still there.

[Laughter]

Lauren, thanks for the sacrifices that you've made to support your parents, especially when they were both deployed. Now, I know that Laura is excited to have much more time with her beloved granddaughter, Anna. So she's really looking forward to that.

Let's give Jim, Lauren, and the whole family a hand.

[Applause]

Now, I first met General Richardson when she was working in legislative affairs and bringing congressional delegations to Iraq. She was immediately impressive. And it's no surprise that she has continued to excel.

She was the first woman to command U.S. Army North, and the first woman to lead SOUTHCOM.

General Richardson has broken barriers throughout her career. And she has always worked hard to ensure that every single Service member-both men and women-can rise as high as their talent will take them.

So Laura, congratulations on a job well done-and on a career that will shine as a beacon.

Thanks for your commitment to excellence,

[Applause]

Thanks for your leadership. Thanks for your 38 years of service to our nation.

And I said earlier that she joined when she was one year old. Puts her right at 39 right now.

[Laughter]

Today, the leadership of U.S. Southern Command passes to Admiral Alvin Holsey.

And Admiral, we're delighted to be joined today by your wife, Stephanie, and your sons, Joshua and Jordan.

Also I heard, Admiral, that some of your fraternity brothers were here. But they're so silent, it can't be your fraternity, so….

[Laughter]

I think there's some Omegas out there, right? Alright, there we go. Just checking.

[Inaudible from Admiral Holsey]

What's that?

[Inaudible from Admiral Holsey]

You told them to be quiet.

[Laughter]

I know Omegas. I'm impressed with what you've done.

[Laughter]

Now, Stephanie and Al met in college while she was a student at Spelman, and he was a student at Morehouse. And they have been unstoppable ever since.

Stephanie is a dentist. And they're hugely proud of their two sons.

Jordan is in medical school at the University of Virginia. And Josh is now a Navy lieutenant, as you heard the Chairman say. He's carrying on the family legacy of military service. And like his old man, Josh is a naval aviator, and he also flies helicopters.

[Applause]

So thanks for everything that you've done to support your dad and your husband throughout 15 moves and seven deployments.

It's also great to see Al's mom, Rosa, here today. As you heard earlier, she's a retired educator. And alongside her husband, Charles, she raised Bull and his three brothers.

Now I'm told, by the way, Mom, that the first time you heard the word "Bull," you were wondering who the heck they're talking about.

[Laughter]

Because your son is named Alvin. But he renamed himself, you know, when he left home, so I feel comfortable in calling him Bull Holsey now, so…. And I think I'm going to be OK with you when I do that, right? OK.

Now, his dad Charles served in the Army during the Korean War. And together, Bull's parents taught him the importance of service-and contributing to something bigger than yourself.

An outstanding, outstanding family. Let's give the entire Holsey family a round of applause.

[Applause]

Throughout his career, Bull Holsey has excelled. He has commanded a helicopter squadron, the USS Makin Island, and Carrier Strike Group One. He's also served as an operations officer on the Joint Staff, and as the deputy chief of naval personnel.

At sea and ashore, the admiral's teammates have admired his leadership and his work ethic. And those who have worked with him have probably heard him say, "Hard work is authorized."

[Laughter]

But he's always made time for family as well. And he's encouraged his teammates to do the same.

And his whole career has prepared him for this new mission. Bull Holsey most recently served as the military deputy commander of SOUTHCOM.

So he's deeply familiar with the challenges that come with this vast area of responsibility.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're making history today. We're making America more secure for sure. But we're also making history today-as the first woman commander of SOUTHCOM passes the baton to the first African-American commander of SOUTHCOM.

[Applause]

And throughout Admiral Holsey's career, he has sometimes been the first. But he's always been the best.

He's always focused on delivering-delivering for his sailors, delivering for his teams, and delivering for the American people.

And that is exactly what I know he'll do as the SOUTHCOM commander.

Bull, you are the right person for this moment and this mission.

Thanks for your lifetime of leadership-and thanks for tackling this big challenge.

[Applause]

There's no question that you've got an exceptional team. And I just want to say thank you one more time.

You know, this past summer, USNS Burlington deployed to Central and South America and the Caribbean as part of this year's Operation Continuing Promise. And at each stop, American medical teams worked alongside medical professionals from our partner countries to take care of patients, and to strengthen clinical infrastructure, and more. In fact, since 2007, Operation Continuing Promise has treated more than 600,000 patients.

So, ladies and gentlemen, that's what SOUTHCOM is all about.

So thanks for being good neighbors. Thanks for keeping this region safe. And thanks for defending our democracy and our values.

Thank you, SOUTHCOM.

May God bless you and your families. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.

[Applause]