US Army General Laura Richardson, who made history as the first woman to lead United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), recently completed three days of high-level meetings focused on the United States’ longstanding bilateral defence ties with Jamaica.
Richardson attended the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Change-of-Command ceremony on Friday, where Rear Admiral (RADM) Antonette Wemyss Gorman became the first woman to assume duties as 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 organisations, shared security cooperation interests, and threats and challenges of mutual concern.
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 US Embassy, meeting senior embassy officials including Chargé d’Affaires Linnisa Wahid to reinforce the US whole-of-government approach to supporting the US-Jamaica security partnership.
On the historic visit, Richardson was also joined by US Air Force Major General Sherrie McCandless, who also made history in 2021 as the first woman to assume Commanding General duties of Washington, DC National Guard. The US capital city’s National Guard has a state partnership with Jamaica established more than two decades ago.
This was General Richardson’s first visit to a Caribbean nation as the SOUTHCOM Commander.
Richardson visited Jamaica from January 20 to 22.
