Joseph D. "Joe" Kernan (born February 4, 1955) is a United States Navy vice admiral. He serves as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Miami, Florida. He assumed his current assignment on May 23, 2011. He is second-in-command of one of nine unified commands under the Department of Defense. SOUTHCOM, which conducts military operations and promotes security cooperation throughout the area of Latin America and the Caribbean.