U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), located in Doral, Fla., is one of nine unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs) in the Department of Defense.
SOUTHCOM is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for:
- Central America
- South America
- The Caribbean (except U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions)
The command oversees the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. SOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and canal area.
Under the leadership of a four-star commander, SOUTHCOM's staff is organized into directorates, component commands and military groups that represent SOUTHCOM in the region of Central America, South America & the Caribbean.
SOUTHCOM is a joint command comprised of more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and several other federal agencies.
The services provide SOUTHCOM with component commands which, along with our Joint Special Operations component, two Joint Task Forces, one Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Assistance Offices, perform SOUTHCOM missions and security cooperation activities.
SOUTHCOM exercises its COCOM authority through the commanders of its components, Joint Task Forces/Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Assistance Offices.