United States Southern Command
Claudio "Vinny" Santo is an experienced program manager currently serving at United States Southern Command since March 2021, focusing on regional security assistance in Central America. Prior to this role, Santo accumulated extensive experience in the United States Air Force from May 2008 to March 2021, where responsibilities included positions such as Deputy Branch Chief for the KC-46 Tanker and Branch Chief for Security Cooperation Programs in Central America and the Caribbean. Santo also held various program management roles covering systems like the B-1B Bomber and C-130 Gunship Datalinks. Additional short-term leadership experience includes serving as a Military Executive Officer to the Deputy Director of US Central Command in 2020 and as Program Manager for Operations in 2014 at the United States Department of Defense. Educational credentials include a degree in Regional Security Studies from Naval Postgraduate School, a Master’s in International and Comparative Politics from Wright State University, and a Bachelor's in Computer Science from Hawaii Pacific University.
United States Southern Command
The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), located in Doral, Florida in Greater Miami, is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands (CCMDs) in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central and South America, the Caribbean (except U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions), their territorial waters, and for the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. USSOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and the canal area. As explained below, USSOUTHCOM has been under scrutiny due to several human rights and rule of law controversies in which it has been embroiled for nearly a decade.