HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- A U.S. Navy SEAL became Special Operations Command South's latest commander during a change of command ceremony presided by U.S. Southern Command Commander Adm. Kurt W. Tidd on March 4, 2016, in Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida.

Rear Adm. Collin P. Green, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Maryland native, replaces U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kurt L. Sonntag, who led USSOUTHCOM's special operations component for the past 18 months.

"Today I have the perfect opportunity to recognize the incalculable contribution that our SOCSOUTH team has made to the security of the United States and the stability of our partners in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean," said USSOUTHCOM's leader, stressing Sonntag's exceptional leadership and the command's tireless efforts.

"I've been impressed by his drive, strategic vision, and devotion to building partnership across the U.S. government and within Latin America," said Tidd, who presented Sonntag with a Defense Superior Service Medal for exceptionally superior service during his tenure as SOCSOUTH commander.

"I have been grateful for the opportunity to lead such a professional group of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, government civilians, contractors and inter-agency partners," said Sonntag, who thanked the command and the entire Homestead community for their support to his family and service members in South Florida. "The friendships [my wife] and I have made within Homestead are special and we will miss all of you."

In a short period, Sonntag made sure USSOUTHCOM had a well-trained, flexible, rapidly deployable maritime special operations response force, said Tidd.

"[However, he] didn't stop there - his crowning achievement was helping build regional support to the global coalition to defeat ISIS," said Tidd.

"None of these successes would have been possible without the timely support of our enabling directorates, or the support from our resourcing [special operations forces] components," said Sonntag. "The strong relationships you have built with our partnered nations, and your progressive thinking, sets you all apart as true quiet professionals."

Building strong relationships throughout the region and with other organizations are one legacy SOCSOUTH's new commander plans to build upon.

"I am confident that as a command we will meet any future challenges and uncertainty by controlling what we can control. We will be creative, innovative, opportunistic, trusted and committed to core skills both as a staff and as operators," said Green, who takes on the responsibility of overseeing the planning, employment, and command of special operations forces in Latin America and the Caribbean in support of USSOUTHCOM.

"I am certain that together we can build upon the superior record of achievement that is the legacy of special operations south," he said.

Green is SOCSOUTH's 15th commander since the command's activation more than 29 years ago. He most recently served as the executive officer to NATO's supreme allied commander prior to assuming command of SOCSOUTH.