US Army activates Western Hemisphere Command in historic transition ceremony

army.mil • December 5, 2025 • nation

Key Points:

The U.S. Army activated the Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC) at Fort Bragg, merging U.S. Army Forces Command, North, and South into a single four-star operational headquarters to enhance command efficiency and operational agility.
Gen. Joseph A. Ryan assumed command of USAWHC, succeeding Gen. Andrew Poppas, who retired after over 37 years of service and led Forces Command since July 2022.
USAWHC will oversee all Army plans, operations, and power projection in support of U.S. Northern and Southern Commands, aiming to streamline processes, eliminate redundancies, and improve rapid crisis response across the Western Hemisphere.
The command integrates domestic response, regional engagement, and large-scale readiness capabilities,