United States Northern Command

United States Northern Command
Emblem of the United States Northern Command.
Active	2002–present
Country	United States of America
Type	Unified Combatant Command Joint activity
Part of	Department of Defense
Headquarters	Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Nickname(s)	USNORTHCOM, NORTHCOM
Commanders
Combatant Commander	General Lori Robinson, USAF
Deputy Commander	Lieutenant General Reynold N. Hoover, United States Army

United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is a Unified Combatant Command of the U.S. military tasked with providing military support for civil authorities in the U.S., and protecting the territory and national interests of the United States within the contiguous United States, Alaska (not Hawaii), Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the air, land and sea approaches to these areas. It is the U.S. military command which, if applicable, would be the primary defender against a mainland invasion of the United States.

USNORTHCOM was created on 25 April 2002 when President George W. Bush approved a new Unified Command Plan, following the September 11 attacks. USNORTHCOM went operational on 1 October 2002.

The support that USNORTHCOM provides to civil authorities is legally limited by the Posse Comitatus Act, which sets some limits on the role of the U.S. military in civilian law enforcement. However, in case of national emergency, natural or man-made, its Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate will take charge of the situation or event.

USNORTHCOM was established on 25 April 2002 when President George W. Bush approved a new Unified Command Plan, and attained initial operating capability on 1 October 2002.