United States Northern Command

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United States Northern Command
Sergeant Major James K. Porterfield, USMC[5]
Insignia
NATO Map Symbol[6][7]
NORTHCOM Area of Responsibility (in blue)

The United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

continental United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas, and the air, land and sea approaches to these areas. It is the U.S. military command which, if applicable, would be the primary defender against an invasion of the U.S.

USNORTHCOM was created on 25 April 2002 when President

. USNORTHCOM went operational on 1 October 2002.

Creation

USNORTHCOM was established on 25 April 2002 when President George W. Bush approved a new

Mission

According to the UCP, Northern Command's mission is to:[12]

  • Conduct operations to deter, prevent, and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests within the assigned area of responsibility and,
  • As directed by the President or Secretary of Defense provide military assistance to non-military authorities including consequence management operations

Area of responsibility

USNORTHCOM's Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the

continental United States, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles (930 km). It also includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, portions of the Caribbean region to include The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.[13] The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas.[14] In May 2011, NORTHCOM was mobilized in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico[15] to provide air, ground, and logistical support.[16] In October 2014, NORTHCOM took administrative control of Alaskan Command.[17]

Organizational structure

Headquarters

NORAD-USNORTHCOM headquarters at the Eberhart-Findley Building on Peterson Space Force Base

Commander, U.S. Northern Command is concurrently Commander of the U.S.-Canadian

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The two are co-located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[18] General Ralph Eberhart was the first CDRUSNORTHCOM.[19]

USNORTHCOM headquarters has approximately 1,200 uniformed and civilian staff.

Weapons of Mass Destruction attack and to coordinate disaster recovery.[21]

Component commands

Emblem Command Acronym Commander Established Headquarters Subordinate Commands
Joint Force Land Component Command[22]
ARNORTH 11 June 1946 JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Marine Corps Forces North[23][24]
MARFORNORTH Lt General Brian W. Cavanaugh 16 December 1946 Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
Joint Force Maritime Component Command[25]
NAVNORTH
Daryl L. Caudle
1 January 1906 Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Joint Force Air Component Command[26]
1 AF (AFNORTH) Lt Gen
Steven S. Nordhaus
1 November 2007 Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
United States Army Cyber Command
Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber[27][28]
ARCYBER / JFHQ–C Lt General
Maria B. Barrett
1 October 2010
Georgia

*These Subordinates fall under United States Army Intelligence and Security Command, however Operational Control (OPCON) is given to ARCYBER for cyber-related effects.

Subordinate unified commands

Emblem Command Acronym Commander Established Headquarters Subordinate Commands
Alaskan Command[29] ALCOM
Lt General David S. Nahom, USAF
15 November 1945
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

There is no U.S. Navy component of ALCOM. The United States Coast Guard's 17th District works closely with ALCOM and de facto acts as its maritime component.

Special Operations Command North[30]
SOCNORTH
ARNG
5 November 2013 Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

Standing joint task force

Emblem Command Acronym Commander Established Headquarters
Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region JFHQ-NCR
Major General Allan M. Pepin, USA
22 September 2004
Washington D.C.
Joint Task Force – Civil Support JTF-CS Colonel Timothy J. Sulzner,
ARNG
October 1999
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
Joint Task Force North JTF-North Major General Matthew D. Smith,
ARNG
November 1989 Fort Bliss, Texas

Commanders

Attendees pay respects during the playing of the American national anthem at the NORAD-USNORTHCOM change of command ceremony on 23 May 2018.

The commander of United States Northern Command is a

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and is the head of all United States and Canadian joint aerospace military operational forces, stationed within the Northern American territories. The commander of U.S. Northern Command is nominated for appointment by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate
. The commander of U.S. Northern Command typically serves for two years.

Note: The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 stipulates that at least one deputy commander of USNORTHCOM be a National Guard general officer unless the commander is already such an officer.[31][32]

No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Ralph E. Eberhart
(born 1946)
22 October 20025 November 20042 years, 14 days
U.S. Air Force
2
Timothy J. Keating
Keating, Timothy J.Admiral
Timothy J. Keating
(born 1948)
5 November 200423 March 20072 years, 138 days
U.S. Navy
3
Victor E. Renuart Jr.
Renuart, Victor E. Jr.General
Victor E. Renuart Jr.
(born 1949)
23 March 200719 May 20103 years, 57 days
U.S. Air Force
4
James A. Winnefeld Jr.
Winnefeld, James A. Jr.Admiral
James A. Winnefeld Jr.
(born 1956)
19 May 20103 August 20111 year, 76 days
U.S. Navy
5
Charles H. Jacoby Jr.
Jacoby, Charles H. Jr.General
Charles H. Jacoby Jr.
(born 1954)
3 August 20115 December 20143 years, 124 days
U.S. Army
6
William E. Gortney
Gortney, William E.Admiral
William E. Gortney
(born 1955)
5 December 201413 May 20161 year, 160 days
U.S. Navy
7
Lori J. Robinson
Robinson, Lori J.General
Lori J. Robinson
(born 1958/1959)
13 May 201624 May 20182 years, 11 days
U.S. Air Force
8
Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy
O'Shaughnessy, Terrence J.General
Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy
(born 1964/1965)
24 May 201820 August 20202 years, 73 days
U.S. Air Force
9
Glen D. VanHerck
VanHerck, Glen D.General
Glen D. VanHerck
(born 1962)
20 August 20205 February 20243 years, 169 days
U.S. Air Force
10
Gregory M. Guillot
5 February 2024Incumbent73 days
U.S. Air Force

Planning and strategy

Northern Command has created several classified "concept plans" (e.g. "Defense Support of Civil Authorities") that are intended to address the 15 National Planning Scenarios that NORTHCOM must be prepared to respond to.[33]

However, in 2012, the GAO found that the national strategy to defend the United States is several years out of date.[34]

Domestic operations and training

NORTHCOM operates extensive domestic intelligence operations which both share and receive information from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and other agencies maintain offices at NORTHCOM and receive daily intelligence briefings.[35] The total of 14 agencies with representatives at NORTHCOM in December 2002 included the State Department, NASA, and the Federal Aviation Administration.[36]

Northern Command has completed several joint training exercises with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the

Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).[37]

In Exercise Vigilant Shield 2008, Northern Command,

Department of Homeland Security, and numerous law enforcement agencies across the U.S. conducted exercises to test their "response abilities against a variety of potential threats".[37]

Related legislation

The

Insurrection Act to quell civil disorders, such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots
.

The

H.R. 5122 (2006) effectively nullified the limits of the Insurrection Act[38]
when it was passed; however, the bill was amended in 2008.

On 1 October 2008, the

Brigade Combat Team was assigned to U.S. Northern Command, marking the first time an active unit had been given a dedicated assignment to Northern Command. The force will be known for the first year as a CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force, and will serve as an on-call federal response force for terrorist attacks and other natural or manmade emergencies and disasters.[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NORTHCOM History" (PDF). NORTHCOM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2022.
  2. ^ "USNORTHCOM Vision". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command". U.S. Northern Command. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Vice Commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command and Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command". U.S. Northern Command. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Command Senior Enlisted Leader, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command". U.S. Northern Command. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  6. ^ FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics (PDF). US Army. 21 September 2004. pp. 5–37.
  7. ^ ADP 1-02 Terms and Military Symbols (PDF). US Army. 14 August 2018. pp. 4–8.
  8. ^ Informally known simply as "NORTHCOM" or "Northern Command")
  9. .
  10. .
  11. .
  12. ^ "The Beginning" (PDF). U.S. Northern Command. 31 December 2012. p. 4. U.S. Northern Command's mission is to deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests. Additionally, the command is charged with providing defense support for civil authorities when approved by the President or Secretary of Defense. U.S. Northern Command also provides military resources and support to federal, state and local authorities.
  13. ^ Jacoby, Charles. "2014 NC Posture Statement" (PDF). northcom.mil. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. ^ U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs (22 October 2009). "About USNORTHCOM". USNORTHCOM website. Peterson Air Force Base, CO: U.S. Northern Command. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  15. ^ "USNORTHCOM responds to Deepwater Horizon oil spill". Northcom.mil. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Deepwater Horizon airspace activity now coordinated at 601st AOC". Northcom.mil. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  17. ^ "NORTHCOM assumes oversight of Alaskan Command - Stripes".
  18. .
  19. ^ "U.S. Northern Command History". Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  20. ^ "U.S. Northern Command". Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  21. ^ "New military command seeks civilian managers". 15 August 2002.
  22. ^ "ARNORTH Organization".
  23. ^ "MARFORCOM Units".
  24. ^ "Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command". marforcom.marines.mil.
  25. ^ "US Navy Fleet Forces Command".
  26. ^ "1st Air Force Units".
  27. ^ "ARCYBER Organization".
  28. ^ "USCYBERCOM History".
  29. ^ "Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson > Units > Alaskan Command".
  30. ^ "Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)".
  31. ^ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=main&bill=h110-4986 Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
  32. ^ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4986 Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 full text
  33. .
  34. ^ "DOD Needs to Address Gaps in Homeland Defense and Civil Support Guidance GAO-13-128, Oct 24, 2012."
  35. .
  36. ^ Shenon and Schmitt NYT 2002.
  37. ^ .
  38. ^ "Bush Moves Towards Martial Law, 26 October 2006". Towardfreedom.com. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  39. ^ "Brigade homeland tours start 1 Oct". Army Times. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2011.

Further reading

External links