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Donovan Confirmed As SOUTHCOM Chief
The US Senate has confirmed Marine Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan as the new head of U.S. Southern Command, as the Trump administration intensifies its focus on military dominance and maritime security in the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan, vice commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, participates in a tour of Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Nov. 6, 2024 by DVIDS
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next commander of U.S. Southern Command, assuming the four-star post as the Trump administration moves to reassert American military dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
Donovan was approved by a voice vote on Friday. He brings a 37-year military career spanning infantry, reconnaissance and special operations roles, during which he has led Marines and sailors across all three Marine Expeditionary Forces, according to the military. Most recently, Donovan served as the vice commander of U.S. Southern Command.
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He succeeds Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who relinquished his duties on Dec. 12, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a post on X. Following Holsey’s departure, Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus served as acting commander of SOUTHCOM.
During his confirmation hearing in January, Donovan pledged “to protect America’s vital national interests, deter war, and if necessary, win them quickly and decisively.”
As commander, Donovan will oversee the Pentagon’s maritime operations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific. Since early September, President Donald Trump has authorized more than three dozen strikes against vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking. According to data compiled by Military Times, those strikes have killed at least 116 people.
At the confirmation hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questioned Donovan about how he would respond to concerns over potentially illegal orders. Warren, who has criticized the administration for not providing lawmakers with the legal justification for the strikes, asked whether it would constitute sedition for a service member to question the legality of an order.
Donovan responded that he had received many orders throughout his career and that when he needed clarity, he sought it from headquarters. He said he would then present his views to higher headquarters “for their consideration.”
The White House has maintained that the strikes comply with the law of armed conflict.
Donovan’s confirmation comes as the Pentagon undertakes a broader strategic shift. The 2026 National Defense Strategy, released last month, emphasizes renewed U.S. military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. President Trump has labeled this approach the “Donroe Doctrine,” invoking a revival of the 19th-century doctrine warning European powers against involvement in the region.
The strategy document states that the United States will guarantee military and commercial access to key terrain, including the Panama Canal, the Gulf of America, and Greenland, and will provide President Trump with credible military options to use against what it describes as narco-terrorists wherever they may operate.
Donovan also comes from a family with deep ties to military service. His wife is a former Navy officer, and their children are currently serving as active-duty Marines.
Editor’s Note:
This article reports on the Senate confirmation of Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan and outlines official statements, testimony, and policy positions related to U.S. Southern Command. All information reflects publicly available records and remarks at the time of publication.
