United States Northern Command 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 , Canada , Mexico ( and the air , land and sea approaches to these areas ) . USNORTHCOM was created on April 25 , 2002 when President George W . Bush approved a new Unified Command Plan , following the September 11 Attacks . USNORTHCOM went operational on October 1 , 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 . Creation . USNORTHCOM was established on April 25 , 2002 when President George W . Bush approved a new Unified Command Plan , and attained initial operating capability on October 1 , 2002 . Mission . According to the UCP , Northern Command ' s mission is to : Area of responsibility . USNORTHCOM ’ s Area of Responsibility ( AOR ) includes air , land and sea approaches and encompasses the contiguous United States , Alaska , Canada , Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately . It also includes the Gulf of Mexico , the Straits of Florida , portions of the Caribbean region to include The Bahamas , Puerto Rico , and the U . S . Virgin Islands . The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada , Mexico , and The Bahamas . NORTHCOM was recently mobilized in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to provide air , ground , and logistical support . Organizational structure . Headquarters . Commander , U . S . Northern Command is concurrently Commander of the U . S . - Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) . The two are co - located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs , Colorado . General Ralph Eberhart was the first CDRUSNORTHCOM . USNORTHCOM headquarters has approximately 1 , 200 uniformed and civilian members , and few permanent forces . Forces from all branches of the U . S . military may be assigned to the Command as needed to complete its mission . Task forces . USNORTHCOM is composed of several standing Joint Task Forces ( JTFs ) previously assigned to United States Joint Forces Command ( USJFCOM ) : Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region , Joint Task Force - Civil Support , Joint Task Force Alaska , and Joint Task Force North . USNORTHCOM service components include U . S . Fifth Army / ARNORTH , First Air Force / AFNORTH , and United States Fleet Forces Command . Between 1 October 2002 and 2007 , Northern Command deactivated Joint Force Headquarters Homeland Security and activated Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and Standing Joint Force Headquarters North . On 31 December 2012 , Special Operations Command - North was activated , and will be led by a general instead of a colonel . List of commanders . Note : The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 stipulates that at least one deputy commander of USNORTHCOM be a National Guard general officer unless the commander is already such an officer . Planning and strategy . Northern Command has created several classified " concept plans " ( e . g . " Defense Support of Civil Authorities " ) that are intended to address the 15 National Planning Scenarios that NORTHCOM must be prepared to respond to . However the GAO found that the national strategy to defend the United States is several years out of date . Domestic operations and training . NORTHCOM operates extensive domestic intelligence operations which both share and receive information from local , state and federal law enforcement agencies . Employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation , Central Intelligence Agency , National Security Agency , Defense Intelligence Agency , National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency , and other agencies maintain offices at NORTHCOM and receive daily intelligence briefings . Northern Command has completed several joint training exercises with local , state and federal law enforcement agencies , the Department of Homeland Security , and the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) . In Exercise Vigilant Shield 2008 , Northern Command , Pacific Command , the Department of Homeland Security , and numerous law enforcement agencies across the U . S . conducted exercises to test their " response abilities against a variety of potential threats " . Related legislation . The Military Commissions Act of 2006 lifted many restrictions placed on the military to support civilian administration by the Posse Comitatus Act , however the US Supreme Court ruled in June 2008 that significant portions of the MCA were unconstitutional . The " John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 " H . R . 5122 ( 2006 ) effectively nullified the limits of the Insurrection Act when it was passed ; however , the bill was amended in 2008 . On 1 Oct . 2008 , the 3rd Infantry Division ( United States ) ’ s 1st Brigade Combat Team was assigned to U . S . Northern Command , marking the first time an active unit had been given a dedicated assignment to Northern Command . The force will be known for the first year as a CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force , and will serve as an on - call federal response force for terrorist attacks and other natural or manmade emergencies and disasters .