Francis L. Donovan

Francis L. Donovan is an American general who has served as the commander of the United States Southern Command since 2026. He previously served as vice commander of the United States Special Operations Command from 2022 to 2026 and as the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division from 2020 to 2022.

Donovan entered the United States Marine Corps in 1986 and served as an infantry, reconnaissance, and special operations officer. His deployments have included the Gulf War and the Iraq War. He was the executive officer of the Marine Corps Special Operations Detachment One from 2005 to 2006. Donovan's notable commands have included the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines; the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from 2011 to 2013; and the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade from 2016 to 2018. He was also an assistant commanding general of the Joint Special Operations Command from 2018 to 2020.

As the commander of Southern Command, he has overseen airstrikes on alleged drug boats during Operation Southern Spear.

Early life and education Donovan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from Towson University. He later received a Master of Military Studies degree from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Marine Corps University and a Master of Strategic Studies degree the United States Army War College. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Marine career Donovan entered the United States Marine Corps in 1986, eventually becoming an infantry and reconnaissance officer. His commands included a Force Reconnaissance platoon, a Marine Corps Security Forces Detachment in Crete, Greece, a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) platoon, and a recruiting station in eastern Pennsylvania. He also served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines.

As a lieutenant colonel, Donovan served as executive officer of Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment One (Det One) from 16 April 2005 to 10 March 2006. As a colonel, Donovan took command of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit on 6 May 2011 and led it during a nine-month deployment that included training exercises in Africa and the Middle East. The unit was also on stand-by to provide security at American embassies in the region during the Arab Spring. He relinquished command on 21 March 2013. His next assignment was as the Director of the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia. He assumed command of Task Force 51/5, the forward element of the Marine Corps Forces Central Command, on 24 June 2016 in Manama, Bahrain, succeeding Maj. Gen. Carl Mundy III. Donovan relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Matthew Trollinger on 3 July 2018. His next assignment was as assistant commanding general, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In September 2022, Donovan was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general with assignment as vice commander, U.S. Special Operations Command. He was confirmed 15 December 2022.

SOUTHCOM commander Donovan with Marine Security Guards at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, 18 February 2026. In December 2025, President Donald Trump nominated him for promotion to four-star general and appointment as commander, United States Southern Command. On 3 January 2026, the Senate returned his nomination to the president without action. His nomination was re-sent to the Senate on 8 January 2026, and confirmed on 30 January 2026. He assumed command on 5 February 2026, succeeding acting commander Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus.

On 18 February 2026, Donovan and U.S. chargé d'affaires to Venezuela Laura F. Dogu met with officials of the Venezuelan interim government—weeks after the U.S. intervention in Venezuela—to discuss the security situation and President Donald Trump's plan for the stabilization of the country. From 1–2 March, he visited Ecuador to discuss security cooperation with President Daniel Noboa and senior defense officials. On 17 March, he presented his Southern Command posture statement to Congress, which notably differed from those of previous commanders by shifting the focus from Chinese influence in the region to drug cartels, and from supporting overall development to the use of direct military force. During the 2026 Cuban crisis, he told the Senate on 19 March 2026 that the U.S. military is not rehearsing or actively preparing to invade Cuba. Donovan visited Panama from 30 March–1 April, where he met President José Raúl Mulino and other officials to discuss cooperation.

At Donovan's direction, Southern Command increased military activity to counter drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, which included operating additional fixed-wing aircraft and MQ-9 Reaper drones from El Salvador and Puerto Rico. As part of Operation Southern Spear, Southern Command conducted airstrikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific at the direction of Donovan during April 2026.

Awards and decorations

SCUBA Diver BadgeNavy and Marine Corps Parachutist InsigniaSilver Star MedalDefense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersLegion of Merit with one gold award starMeritorious Service Medal with two gold award starsJoint Service Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold award starsCombat Action RibbonNavy Unit Commendation with two bronze service starsNavy Meritorious Unit CommendationNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalSouthwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service starsIraq Campaign Medal with service starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalSea Service Deployment Ribbon with three service starsNavy and Marine Corps Overseas Service RibbonMarine Corps Recruiting RibbonKuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)Expert Rifle BadgeExpert Pistol BadgeUnited States Southern Command Badge

Dates of promotion

+ Rank Branch Date Major Marine Corps 22 May 1998 Lieutenant colonel 31 March 2003 Colonel3 April 2009 Brigadier general 26 May 2016 Major general 20 March 2020 Lieutenant general 15 December 2022 General 30 January 2026

Personal life Donovan is married to Kim, a retired Navy officer, and they have two children.