 Admiral Kurt W. Tidd assumed duties as commander U.S. Southern Command during a formal change of command ceremony January 14th. Tidd assumed command from U.S. Marine Corps General John F. Kelly, who led U.S. Southern Command since November 2012. Admiral Tidd looks forward to working closely with Caribbean, South, and Central American allies to strengthen relationships and regional cooperation. We look forward to serving alongside you and our interagency partners as we build innovative solutions to complex trans-regional challenges. We look forward to strengthening the bonds of friendship and fellowship in this vibrant part of the world and to beginning the next chapter of U.S. Southcom's partnership for the Americas. Tidd, the Navy's longest tenure surface warfare officer, is just the second Navy officer to hold the position in U.S. Southern Command history. To learn more about U.S. Southern Command, visit their website.