U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Kurt W. Tidd is scheduled to assume duties as commander of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) from U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly during a formal change-of-command ceremony Jan. 14 at the command’s headquarters in Doral.
Kelly will retire after more than four decades of distinguished military service as a Marine infantry enlisted man and commissioned officer, including combat tours in Iraq as assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division and commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
Tidd’s presidential nomination for assignment as SOUTHCOM commander was approved by the U.S. Senate Dec. 16. He will receive his fourth star in a private military promotion ceremony Jan. 14 before assuming duties as SOUTHCOM’s 23rd Commander, coming from the Pentagon where he formerly served as assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
U.S. Southern Command is one of the nation’s six geographically-focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
SOUTHCOM headquarters is located at 9301 NW 33rd St. For more information, visit www.southcom.mil.
