| United States Northern Command | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the United States Northern Command. |
|
| Active | 2002–present |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Unified Combatant Command Joint activity |
| Headquarters | Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Nickname | NORTHCOM |
| Commanders | |
| Combatant Commander | General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., USA |
| Deputy Commander | Lieutenant General Frank J. Grass, USA |
United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM, or informally just NORTHCOM) is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military. Created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities.
The support that USNORTHCOM provides to civil authorities is limited by the Posse Comitatus Act which limits the role of the U.S. military in civil law enforcement. However, in case of national emergencies, natural or man-made, its Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate will take charge of the situation or event.[1]
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USNORTHCOM was established on April 25, 2002 when President George W. Bush approved a new Unified Command Plan.[2]
USNORTHCOM’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the contiguous United States, Alaska, 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, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas.[3] NORTHCOM was recently mobilized in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico[4] to provide air, ground, and logistical support.[5]
USNORTHCOM headquarters has approximately 1,200 uniformed and civilian members, and few permanent forces. Forces from all branches of the U.S. military may be assigned to the Command as needed to complete its mission.
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 Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. General Ralph Eberhart was the first CDRUSNORTHCOM.
USNORTHCOM is composed of several standing Joint Task Forces (JTFs) previously assigned to United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM): Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, Joint Task Force-Civil Support, Joint Task Force Alaska, and Joint Task Force North. USNORTHCOM service components include U.S. Fifth Army/ARNORTH, First Air Force/AFNORTH, and United States Fleet Forces Command.
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.[6][7]
| Image | Name | Branch | Term began | Term ended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | General Ralph E. Eberhart | USAF | 22 October 2002 | 5 November 2004 | |
| 2. | Admiral Timothy J. Keating | USN | 5 November 2004 | 23 March 2007 | |
| 3. | General Victor E. Renuart Jr. | USAF | 23 March 2007 | 19 May 2010 | |
| 4. | Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr. | USN | 19 May 2010 | 3 August 2011 | |
| 5. | General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr. | USA | 3 August 2011 |
The Military Commissions Act of 2006 lifted many restrictions placed on the military to support civilian administration by the Posse Comitatus Act, however the US 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[8] when it was passed; however, the bill was amended in 2008.
On 1 Oct. 2008, the 3rd Infantry Division (United States)’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. [9].
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