USSOUTHCOM: Aligning Organizational Structure to the Range of Military Operations
Abstract
In October 2008, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)-under the leadership of Admiral James G. Stavridis and with the approval and support of the Secretary of Defense-transitioned to a new model of headquarters organizational structure. A functional directorate system replaced traditional J-codes, common to most geographic and functional combatant commands. The purposes behind this new arrangement were to increase interagency collaboration and invigorate a more mission-oriented, strategy-focused outlook, tailored to the Latin America and Caribbean regions. In spite of its much-heralded start, the functional directorate system would be short-lived. Approximately fifteen months after implementation, on 12 January 2010, a massive earthquake struck just outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In a matter of days, overwhelmed by circumstances and the great number of military and civilian augmentees, the new SOUTHCOM commander appropriately directed a reversion to J-codes to improve unity of effort. But, with the end of the Haiti operations and the redeployment of forces long since passed, SOUTHCOM continues to operate by J-codes. This paper will argue that given the emphasis of U.S. strategic guidance on a whole-of-government approach to national security, the unique opportunities that exist for cooperation and partnership with countries in the region, and the generally stable security environment of the theater, SOUTHCOM should return to a permanent functional directorate organizational construct. When a crisis arises that is sufficiently complex, SOUTHCOM could temporarily employ a J-code construct for the duration of military operations. Upon transition and re-deployment, the command would return to functional directorates. Such an arrangement is best described as an alternating or interchangeable organizational structure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 04, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA546291
Entities
People
- David W. Simpson
Organizations
- Naval War College