20 Years of Defending the Homeland

Photo By Joshua Armstrong | General Glen VanHerck, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, speaks during the USNORTHCOM 20th Anniversary Ceremony 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)  

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, CO, UNITED STATES

10.14.2022

Story by 1st Lt. Sean Carter 

U.S. Northern Command

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – On Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, U.S. Northern Command celebrated its 20-year anniversary in a ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base, Co.

Gen. Glen VanHerck, who is commander of both North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, took a moment to commemorate key accomplishments and to celebrate original USNORTHCOM plank holders in attendance at the ceremony.

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

U.S. Northern Command was officially formed Oct. 1, 2002. For 20 years, the service members and civilian DoD employees that make up USNORTHCOM have not only met, but exceeded at their charge to protect and defend the homeland.

USNORTHCOM traces its origins to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.The nation learned on that fateful day that the homeland was not the sanctuary it was once thought to be.

As the 11th unified combatant command, USNORTHCOM was established to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities. It defends America's homeland, protects its people, national power, and freedom of action. The commander of USNORTHCOM is also responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas.

In the twenty years since its establishment, USNORTHCOM has responded to a wide array of domestic threats and conflicts. Through its responsibilities under defense support of civil authorities, or DSCA, USNORTHCOM has responded to disaster relief including hurricanes, wildfires and earthquake recovery. More recent DSCA missions included COVID-19 response efforts and Operation Allies Welcome, providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for tens of thousands of Afghan refugees.
USNORTHCOM works in lock-step with North American Aerospace Defense Command—NORAD— whose mission is described as distinct but inseparable. NORAD is responsible for preventing air attacks against North America, safeguarding the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and providing aerospace and maritime warning for North America.

Friday’s ceremony celebrated how far USNORTHCOM had come and the ever-evolving nature of its mission, as VanHerck reminded attendees at the ceremony.

“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.”

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: 10.14.2022
• Date Posted: 10.14.2022 10:32
• Story ID: 431328
• Location: PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, CO, US