The United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands (UCCs). Established on April 25, 2002, it was the fifth of the six geographic UCCs to be established (the sixth, AFRICOM, was established on October 1, 2007).
NORTHCOM’s Area of Responsibility covers the contiguous United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and the waters surrounding them up to a distance of roughly 500 nautical miles. Additional land areas that NORTHCOM is responsible for include The Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, and Puerto Rico.
Two subordinate unified commands fall under the command and control of NORTHCOM: Special Operations Command-North, established on New Year’s Eve 2012, and Alaskan Command, which was moved from the purview of U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) on October 1, 2014.
NORTHCOM Headquarters is located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is commanded by General Lori Robinson, who became the first female to head a major Unified Combatant Command in the history of the United States Armed Forces when she took command on May 13, 2016. She simultaneously was named commander of North American Aerospace Command, which also is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base.
Related Items
United States Northern Command Patch (SSI)
U.S. Army Element, United States Northern Command Patch (SSI)
U.S. Army Element, United States Northern Command Unit Crest (DUI)