U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (also known as USNAVSO) is the naval element of United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). Its areas of operation include South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters. Its headquarters are located at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. USNAVSO is currently under the command of Rear Admiral Sinclair M. Harris.

Mission
USNAVSO and U.S. Fourth Fleet supports USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full spectrum military operations by providing principally sea based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

History
Commander, USNAVSO (COMUSNAVSO) was re-established in February 2000, with headquarters at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico which in early 2004 relocated to Naval Station Mayport, Florida. COMUSNAVSO serves as a main link between the U.S. Navy and the navies of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and is at the forefront of U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere. The command consolidates functions previously conducted by the Commander, Western Hemisphere Group, formerly in Mayport, Florida and the Commander, South Atlantic Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSOLANT), formerly located at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

COMUSNAVSO was built around the core of COMSOLANT, that was established in June of 1958 with headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago and was moved to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico in 1973. COMSOLANT had participated in annual “UNITAS” deployments around South America since 1960, and routinely deployed to Africa for the West African Training Cruise since 1980.

In addition to UNITAS, COMUSNAVSO, participates in navy-to-navy exercises, counter drug operations, port visits, humanitarian missions, disaster relief, new horizons, and protocol events. COMUSNAVSO exercises military command and control of all assigned ships and unit, and represents the U.S. Southern Command with respect to naval matters in the region.

Previous USNAVSO Commanders

 * Rear Admiral Kevin P. Green (10 December 1999 - Unknown)(Retired)
 * Rear Admiral Vinson E. Smith (September 2002 - 2 September 2005)(Retired)
 * Rear Admiral James W. Stevenson, Jr. (2 September 2005 - 12 July 2008)(Retired)
 * Rear Admiral Joseph D. Kernan (12 July 2008 - 12 June 2009)
 * Rear Admiral Victor G. Guillory (12 June 2009 - 5 August 2011)(Retired)
 * Rear Admiral Kurt W. Tidd (5 August 2011 - 22 June 2012)
 * Rear Admiral Sinclair M. Harris (22 June 2012 - Present)