Richardson Becomes 1st Woman to Lead Southern Command
Mon, 11/01/2021 - 13:01
In a ceremony before family, friends and dignitaries, Gen. Laura Richardson on Oct. 29 became the first woman to lead the U.S. Southern Command.
The trailblazing officer also is the first Army woman to lead a geographic combatant command and the second Army woman to reach the four-star rank. She succeeds Navy. Adm. Craig Faller, who is retiring after leading the command since November 2018 and nearly 40 years of service.
Richardson, who most recently commanded U.S. Army North, said she is “honored and excited” to serve alongside the Southern Command team. “I lead this team in an era of great change,” Richardson said during the change-of-command ceremony.
From rapid advancements in technology to “cross-cutting threats that know no borders,” including pandemics, transnational criminal organizations and climate change, the U.S. is in an era of “long-term strategic competition,” she said. She added that the security of the region is “inextricably linked” to U.S. national security.
https://www.ausa.org/news/richardson-becomes-1st-woman-lead-southern-command