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SOUTHCOM Commander Makes Historic Visit to Jamaica
4 MINUTE READ
January 23, 2022

U.S. Army General (GEN) Laura Richardson, who made history as the first woman to lead United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Jamaica on January 20-22 for three days of high-level meetings focused on the United States’ longstanding bilateral defense ties with Jamaica.

Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander, U.S. Southern Command with Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, Jamaica’s first woman Chief of Defence Staff at a reception held in her honor.

 

Richardson attended the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Change-of-Command ceremony Friday night where Rear Admiral (RADM) Antonette Wemyss Gorman became the first woman to assume duties as the Jamaica’s Chief of Defence Staff.

On Saturday, RADM Wemyss Gorman and GEN Richardson met at the JDF Headquarters to discuss the ever-growing partnership between their organizations, shared security cooperation interests, and threats and challenges of mutual concern.

From L-R: Ambassador Jean Manes, Civillian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. Southern Command; Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, Chief of Defence Staff; Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander, U.S. Southern Command; Linnisa Wahid, Chargé d’ Affaires, United States Embassy, Kingston and Maj

 

Richardson also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang to discuss security cooperation opportunities in support of cyber engagements, local security, and combatting illicit trafficking.

The SOUTHCOM commander kicked off her trip Thursday at the U.S. Embassy, meeting senior embassy officials including Chargé d’Affaires Linnisa Wahid to reinforce the U.S. whole-of-government approach to supporting the U.S.-Jamaica security partnership.

Gen. Laura Richardson, Commander, U.S. Southern Command shares a moment during the reception with The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, The Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. Also looking on are Ambassador Jean Manes, Civillian Deput

 

On the historic visit, Richardson was also joined by U.S. Air Force Major General Sherrie McCandless, who also made history in 2021 as the first woman to assume Commanding General duties of the Washington, D.C. National Guard. The U.S. capital city’s National Guard has a state partnership with Jamaica established more than two decades ago.

This was GEN Richardson’s first visit to a Caribbean nation as the SOUTHCOM Commander.