WASHINGTON — Senators approved Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan’s fourth star late Friday, along with his ascension to head up US Southern Command.
Confirmed by voice vote on the chamber floor, Donovan will take over the reins from Acting Commander Lt. Gen. Pettus, though SOUTHCOM did not immediately respond to questions about when that handover will occur.
Changes at the command have been ongoing for months after Adm. Alvin Holsey announced plans in October to suddenly step down from the SOUTHCOM commander post just as the US military began striking more small boats in the Caribbean Sea. Donovan was serving as the vice commander of the United States Special Operations Command when he was tapped to take over the vacant seat.
In the intervening months, the the Trump administration has officially refocused its military priorities on the Western Hemisphere — first in the National Security Strategy and then the National Defense Strategy — while also continuing to strike small boats and conducting a military operation last month capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In mid-January, Donovan appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing but offered few insights into how he might usher in changes as the regional situation quickly evolves. He did tell lawmakers one of his first steps would be to do an analysis of the capability of the SOUTHCOM headquarters and “really build on the strength.”
“The concern now is, as we have additional physical assets in places, is the headquarters staffed, structured to maintain sustained logistics and supply and all the basics underpinnings of military capability? … Are we a headquarters capable of bringing those capabilities together? And I believe we’re going to get there,” Donovan added.
The then-three-star general also stated that he wants to build and expand military-to-military relationships in the region in order to “increase regional security,” while examining decrements to soft power levers like foreign aid.
“I am concerned about any drops in any of the tools that would be available to combatant commanders to address a range of issues,” he said.
