United States Northern Command#List of commanders

USNORTHCOM was established on 25 April 2002 when President George W. Bush approved a new Unified Command Plan,{{cite book|editor=Whitley, Joe D.|title=Homeland security: legal and policy issues|chapter=Unified Combatant Commands and USNORTHCOM|publisher=American Bar Association|year=2009|isbn=978-1-60442-462-1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJI54yr1ymQC&pg=PA44|display-editors=etal}}{{cite book|chapter=Homeland Security: Establishment and Implementation of Northern Command|editor=Thaler, William M.|editor2=Bea, Keith|title=Emerging issues in homeland security|publisher=Nova Publishers|year=2005|isbn=978-1-59454-139-1|page=107|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gop_tJNrPpsC&pg=PA107|author=Bolkcom, Christopher|display-authors=etal}} and attained initial operating capability on 1 October 2002.{{Cite book|editor=Cecchine, Gary|title=Triage for civil support: using military medical assets to respond to terrorist attacks|publisher=RAND Corporation|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8330-3661-2|page=25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-7xxfTXOwsC&pg=PA25}}

According to the UCP, Northern Command's mission is to:{{Cite web|title=The Beginning|website=U.S. Northern Command|url=https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf|date=31 December 2012|page=4|quote=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.}}

• 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

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 {{convert|500|nmi|km|-1}}. 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.{{cite web|last1=Jacoby|first1=Charles|title=2014 NC Posture Statement|url=http://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/2014%20NC%20Posture%20Statement_Final_HASC.pdf|website=northcom.mil|access-date=18 April 2015}} The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas.{{cite web |url=http://www.northcom.mil/About/index.html |title=About USNORTHCOM |author=U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs |date=22 October 2009 |work=USNORTHCOM website |publisher=U.S. Northern Command |location=Peterson Air Force Base, CO |access-date=28 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816213648/http://www.northcom.mil/about/index.html |archive-date=16 August 2009 |url-status=dead}} In May 2011, NORTHCOM was mobilized in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico{{cite web|url=http://www.northcom.mil/news/2010/050510.html |title=USNORTHCOM responds to Deepwater Horizon oil spill |publisher=Northcom.mil |access-date=19 May 2011}} to provide air, ground, and logistical support.{{cite web|url=http://www.northcom.mil/news/2010/071310.html |title=Deepwater Horizon airspace activity now coordinated at 601st AOC |publisher=Northcom.mil |date=13 July 2010 |access-date=19 May 2011}} In October 2014, NORTHCOM took administrative control of Alaskan Command.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stripes.com/northcom-assumes-oversight-of-alaskan-command-1.311066|title=NORTHCOM assumes oversight of Alaskan Command - Stripes|work=Stars and Stripes }}

File:210114-D-BN624-0138 (50836841477).jpg

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.{{cite book|author=Cutler, Thomas|title=Navcivguide|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=2011|isbn=978-1-61251-019-4|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lTc4TxT5YBAC&pg=PT59}} General Ralph Eberhart was the first CDRUSNORTHCOM.{{cite web|title=U.S. Northern Command History|url=http://www.northcom.mil/About/history_education/history.html|access-date=11 February 2013}}

USNORTHCOM headquarters has approximately 1,200 uniformed and civilian staff.{{cite web|title=U.S. Northern Command|url=http://www.northcom.mil/About/index.html|access-date=11 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816213648/http://www.northcom.mil/about/index.html|archive-date=16 August 2009|url-status=dead}} In its first period of organising in 2002–03, one priority was to hire civilian staff which could help respond to a Weapons of Mass Destruction attack and to coordinate disaster recovery.{{cite web | url=https://www.govexec.com/defense/2002/08/new-military-command-seeks-civilian-managers/12325/ | title=New military command seeks civilian managers | date=15 August 2002 }}

{{Main|Leadership of the United States Northern Command}}

File:NORAD & USNORTHCOM Change of Command 2018 180524-F-SD165-1055.jpg

The commander of United States Northern Command is a four-star general or admiral in the United States Armed Forces who serves as the head of all U.S. military forces within the command's geographical area of responsibility. The commander of U.S. Northern Command concurrently serves as the commander of 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.http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=main&bill=h110-4986 Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4986 Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 full text

{{#section:Leadership of the United States Northern Command|Commanders}}

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.{{cite book|title=Managing the next domestic catastrophe: ready (or not)? : a beyond Goldwater-Nichols phase 4 report|publisher=CSIS|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89206-534-9|page=47|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ePiOA2-4qz0C&pg=PA47|author1=Wormuth, Christine E. |author2=Witkowsky, Anne |name-list-style=amp }}

However, in 2012, the GAO found that the national strategy to defend the United States is several years out of date.[http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-128?source=ra "DOD Needs to Address Gaps in Homeland Defense and Civil Support Guidance GAO-13-128, Oct 24, 2012."]

On 20 January 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Secretary of Defense to give Northern Command the mission to "seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States," requiring the secretary to revise the Unified Command Plan within 10 days in accordance with the order, and the commander of Northern Command to present a plan within 30 days on how NORTHCOM will achieve this mission.{{Cite web |last=Obis |first=Anastasia |title=Trump's executive order directs NORTHOM to 'seal' the border |date=22 January 2025 |work=Federal News Network |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2025/01/trumps-executive-order-directs-northcom-to-seal-the-border/ }}{{Cite web |last1=Roque |first1=Ashley |last2=Hitchens |first2=Theresa |work=Breaking Defense |title=Trump's Pentagon to begin task of crafting NORTHCOM plan to 'seal' US borders |date=21 January 2025 |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/trumps-pentagon-to-begin-task-of-crafting-northcom-plan-to-seal-us-borders/ }}

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.{{cite book|author=Miller, Russell A.|title=US national security, intelligence and democracy: from the Church Committee to the War on Terror|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2008|isbn=978-0-415-44646-4|page=172|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhzvd391spIC&pg=PA172}} The total of 14 agencies with representatives at NORTHCOM in December 2002 included the State Department, NASA, and the Federal Aviation Administration.Shenon and Schmitt NYT 2002.

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).

In Exercise Vigilant Shield 2008, Northern Command, Pacific Command, the 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".{{cite book|title=Domestic deployment of the armed forces: military powers, law and human rights|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7546-7346-0|page=60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OcaQ341m4PEC&pg=PA60|author1=Head, Michael |author2=Mann, Scott |name-list-style=amp }}

In January 2025 the Northern Command activated military police and combat engineer units from the Army and Marine Corps to support Customs and Border Patrol on the U.S. southern border.{{Cite web |title=Active-duty forces to bolster security at U.S. southern border |work=U.S. Northern Command |date=24 January 2025 |publisher=USNORTHCOM |url=https://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Article/4039987/active-duty-forces-to-bolster-security-at-us-southern-border/ }} In March 2025, the newly formed Joint Task Force-Southern Border, from the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division, took over control of the operation along the Mexico–United States border, to oversee joint forces and serve as the NORTHCOM land component command for the mission, which involves about 10,000 service members.{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Samarion |title=Joint Task Force-Southern Border assumes authority of Southern Border Mission |date=25 March 2025 |work=army.mil |publisher=U.S. Army |url=https://www.army.mil/article/284048/joint_task_force_southern_border_assumes_authority_of_southern_border_mission }}

The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and subsequent Department of Defense policy constrains any member of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps, and the National Guard under federal authority from domestically intervening in a law enforcement capacity on United States soil. Several exceptions to the law have been used in the past, including protecting the citizens' constitutional rights in the absence of state and/or local assistance, such as protecting the Little Rock Nine students in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, and using the Insurrection Act to quell civil disorders, such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 lifted many restrictions placed on the military to support non-military authorities by the Posse Comitatus Act, however the United States Supreme Court ruled in June 2008 that significant portions of the MCA were unconstitutional. The "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" H.R. 5122 (2006) effectively nullified the limits of the Insurrection Act{{cite web|url=http://www.towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/911/ |title=Bush Moves Towards Martial Law, 26 October 2006 |publisher=Towardfreedom.com |date=26 October 2006 |access-date=19 May 2011}} when it was passed; however, the bill was amended in 2008.

On 1 October 2008, the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/ |title=Brigade homeland tours start 1 Oct. |work=Army Times|date=30 September 2008 |access-date=19 May 2011}}

• National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
• NSPD-51

{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

• {{cite journal|author1=Colonel Cronen|author2=R. Barry|title=U.S. Northern Command & Defense Support of Civil Authorities|journal=Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Newsletter |issue=10 |volume=9 |date=December 2009 |url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/call/docs/10-16/ch_4.asp |access-date=13 December 2011 |archive-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516180127/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/call/docs/10-16/ch_4.asp|url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite news |last1=Shenon |first1=Philip |author2=Eric Schmitt |title=Meeting Daily, U.S. Nerve Centre Prepares for Terrorists |url= |work=The New York Times |date=27 December 2002}}
• [https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf NORTHCOM: A Short History] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220317051021/https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf Archived]

• [http://www.northcom.mil/ United States Northern Command]

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Northern Command

Category:Military units and formations in Colorado

Category:Organizations based in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Category:Military units and formations established in 2002

Category:2002 establishments in the United States

Category:United States–North American relations