United States Northern Command Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Activation

Photo By Joshua Armstrong | General Glen VanHerck, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, passes the guidon to Air Force Gen. retired Richard Myers, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the USNORTHCOM 20th Anniversary Ceremony on Sept. 30, 2022, at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. USNORTHCOM was established Oct. 1, 2002 to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities. (Department of Defense photo by Joshua Armstrong)  

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

09.30.2022

Story by Lt. Richard Rodriguez 

U.S. Northern Command

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command hosted a 20th anniversary ceremony to commemorate the key accomplishments and enduring strength of its mission in homeland defense at Peterson Space Force Base Sept. 30.

“For twenty years, the men and women of U.S. Northern Command have kept our nation safe,” said Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. “Through each and every challenge and new mission, they respond with professionalism, courage, and commitment.”

In 2021, VanHerck published the first-ever combined NORAD and USNORTHCOM Strategy that aligned with national objectives in the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, National Defense Strategy, and Canada’s Strong, Secure, Engaged policy.

“Over the past two years the commands, both USNORTHCOM and NORAD, have focused on a single strategy to give our senior leaders more time and decision space,” said VanHerck. “The most significant challenge for the commands now is the fundamental shift in the global security environment. My goal is to ensure that any competitor who ever thinks about striking our homeland sees a nation so capable and resilient they never take that next step.”

In addition to U.S. Northern Command’s top priority of homeland defense, the command has served the American people over the last 20 years through defense support of civil authorities, or DSCA. These missions have included disaster relief including hurricane, land wildfire and earthquake recovery. Recent DSCA missions have also included COVID-19 response and Operation Allies Welcome, providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for tens of thousands of Afghan refugees.

“More than any other combatant command, U.S. Northern Command’s unique mission provides us with the privilege of working alongside community partners to ensure successful mission execution,” said VanHerck.

During the ceremony, the command guidon was passed from retired Gen. Richard Myers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when U.S. Northern Command was established, to Gen. VanHerck. This gesture was reminiscent of Myers’ passing the guidon to Gen. Ed Eberhart, the first commander of USNORTHCOM, at the command’s inception.

U.S. Northern Command was established Oct. 1, 2002 to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities in response to the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

For further imagery/content of U.S. NORTHCOM 20th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony go to: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USNORTHCOM

For more information about U.S. NORTHCOM’s mission, go to: http://www.northcom.mil

• Date Taken: 09.30.2022
• Date Posted: 09.30.2022 18:57
• Story ID: 430532
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US