Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids is the Chief of Staff, U.S. Southern Command. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Read Adm. is a surface warfare officer and a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. She is also a 2002 graduate of the Naval War College with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies and a 2012 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy.

Rear Admiral Davids reported to U.S. Southern Command in June 2020. Her sea assignments include electrical officer, combat information center officer, and communications officer aboard USS San Jose (AFS 7) deploying in support of Desert Shield/Storm; operations officer aboard USS David R. Ray (DD 971); operations officer aboard USS Normandy (CG 60); executive officer aboard USS Higgins (DOG 76) during the initial combat operations of Iraqi Freedom; and later executive officer aboard USS Benfold (DOG 65).

Davids commanded both USS Curts (FFG 38) deploying to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) serving as air defense commander for the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. Her most recent assignment was as Commander, Nimitz Strike Group / Carrier Strike Group 11.