Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate

Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate
Emblem of the AF NORTH National Security Emergency Preparedness.
Active	1 Oct 2006 - present
Country	United States
Branch	First Air Force
Type	USNORTHCOM
Headquarters	Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
Nickname(s)	AFNSEP or NSEP
Commanders
AFNORTH Commander	Lt Gen William H. Etter
AFNSEP Commander	Col Michael P. Hare

The Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate (AFNSEP or NSEP), of the First Air Force (1AF or AFNORTH) operates out of its Northern Headquarters at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, effective 1 January 2008.

NSEP facilitates and coordinates USAF Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) for natural and man-made disasters and or emergencies. The Directorate advises and consults with Office of the Secretary of Defense, Unified Combatant Command, Joint Staff Director of Military Support (JDOMS), and all levels of civil and military authorities on DSCA issues. Provides Air Force with specific leadership for critical situational awareness between the commands and the field.

AFNSEP in close collaboration with interagency and allied partners, anticipates and when directed conducts Homeland Defense and Civil Support operations to defend, protect, and secure the United States and its interests.

For 2011, AFNORTH and AFNSEP focus is on air sovereignty alert mission and Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the attacks, which aim to protect the country from another aerial attack.

AFNSEP was originally began as Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Agency, but changed its name when it was deactivated as an Air Staff Field Operating Agency to Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate. This realignment occurred under the United States Northern Command, 1 October 2006. The first commander of AF Northern HQ was Maj. Gen. Henry C. Morrow, AFNORTH Commander, until November, 2009.

While USAF local airmen were helping in the battle of deadly blazes consuming hundreds of acres of Southern California, AFNSEP/AFNORTH sent an Air Component Coordination Element, or ACCE, to the region to support firefighting operations. AFNSEP's eight-person ACCE team coordinated all Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units helping with firefighting efforts. AFNSEP also dispatched six C-130 Hercules aircraft which dumped over 3,000 gallons of fire retardant on blazes, to help with the firefighting effort. (Reported by Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, AFNORTH Cmdr.)