Heather Mongilio – December 4, 2025 10:25 AM
USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) chopped into U.S. Southern Command within the last 24 hours, USNI News has learned.
A Navy official confirmed Thursday that Thomas Hudner has joined the Navy’s buildup of ships in SOUTHCOM. Also in the region are the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group — USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) and USS San Antonio (LPD-17) — cruisers USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and USS Gettysburg (CG-64) and the ships of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group — USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) and USS Mahan (DDG-72).
Thomas Hudner departed Monday from Mayport, Fla., for a scheduled deployment, according to a Navy release.
“The sailors onboard Thomas Hudner are proud, professional and combat tested,” Cmdr. David Cook, the destroyer’s commanding officer, said in the release. “Thomas Hudner is combat ready, and our crew is poised to execute the nation’s tasking.”
This will be the second trip this year to SOUTHCOM for Thomas Hudner, which has been independently deploying since returning in January 2024 from an eight-month deployment as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. While on its Gerald R. Ford CSG deployment, Thomas Hudner was part of the first destroyers to shoot down Houthi missiles and drones being launched at commercial shipping.
In February 2025, the Navy sent Thomas Hudner to SOUTHCOM to support Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After completing exercises and freedom of navigation operations in SOUTHCOM, Thomas Hudner sailed in U.S. Six Fleet’s area of response. In June, Thomas Hudner was one of five U.S. ballistic missile destroyers in the Mediterranean, USNI News previously reported.
Thomas Hudner returned home in July, according to the Navy.
Heather Mongilio
Heather Mongilio is a reporter with USNI News. She has a master’s degree in science journalism and has covered local courts, crime, health, military affairs and the Naval Academy.
Follow @hmongilio