Alaskan Command

Alaskan Command
Alaskan Command shield
Active	November 15, 1942 – present
Allegiance	United States
Type	Subunified command
Role	Defense of Alaska
Part of	United States Northern Command
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Gen Russell J Handy

The Alaskan Command (ALCOM) is a joint sub-unified command of the United States Northern Command, (formerly of United States Pacific Command) responsible for operations in and around the state of Alaska. Alaskan Command is charged with maintaining air sovereignty, deploying forces for worldwide contingencies as directed by the Commander, Pacific Command, providing support to federal and state authorities during civil emergencies and conducting joint training for the rapid deployment of combat forces. ALCOM combined forces include more than 16,000 Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard personnel, and 3,700 guardsmen and reservists. Recently, the Command Representative for Missile Defense position was created to be the focal point for all issues related to Ground-Based Midcourse Defense in Alaska, in support of Alaskan Command, the Alaska NORAD Region, and the Eleventh Air Force.

ALCOM is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage. The command is made up of the following military forces:

ALCOM was established 1 January 1947, as a unified command reporting to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The command was founded based on lessons learned during World War II, when a lack of unity of command hampered operations to drive the Japanese from the western Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska.