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Commander of NORAD
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<p>The commander of <a href="/facts/North_American_Aerospace_Defense_Command/uQgYBjz4">North American Aerospace Defense Command</a> (NORAD) is a <a href="/facts/Four-star_rank/rxDa9Fsw">four-star</a> <a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">general</a> or <a href="/facts/Admiral_(United_States)/4EnHN4bR">admiral</a> in the <a href="/facts/United_States_Armed_Forces/NHVsU9Id">United States Armed Forces</a> who serves as the head of all <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> and <a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc">Canadian</a> <a href="/facts/Combined_operations/r4P0TNKQ">joint aerospace military operational forces</a>, stationed within the <a href="/facts/North_America/djNjCQIl">North American territories</a>. The commander of NORAD concurrently serves as the commander of <a href="/facts/United_States_Northern_Command/4eeakmJS">United States Northern Command</a> and is the head of all U.S. military forces within the command's geographical <a href="/facts/Area_of_responsibility/uxNwRjbD">area of responsibility</a>. The commander of NORAD is nominated for appointment by the <a href="/facts/President_of_the_United_States/oMsfmLb1">President of the United States</a> and must be confirmed by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Senate/VyzXHE01">United States Senate</a>. Prior to 2001, the title for the commander of NORAD was called the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The commander of NORAD typically serves for two years. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">No.</th><th colspan="2">Commander</th><th colspan="3">Term</th><th rowspan="2">Service branch</th></tr><tr><th>Portrait</th><th>Name</th><th>Took office</th><th>Left office</th><th>Term length</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>Partridge, Eagle E.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Earle_E._Partridge/1wLl3yX9">Earle E. Partridge</a>(1900–1990)</td><td>12 September 1957</td><td>30 July 1959</td><td>1 year, 321 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>Kuter, Laurence S.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Laurence_S._Kuter/31zr0enW">Laurence S. Kuter</a>(1905–1979)</td><td>1 August 1959</td><td>30 July 1962</td><td>2 years, 363 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>Gerhart, John K.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/John_K._Gerhart/QnBf1jsj">John K. Gerhart</a>(1907–1981)</td><td>1 August 1962</td><td>30 March 1965</td><td>2 years, 241 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>Strother, Dean C.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Dean_C._Strother/9CetzacQ">Dean C. Strother</a>(1908–2000)</td><td>1 April 1965</td><td>29 July 1966</td><td>1 year, 119 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>Reeves, Raymond J.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Raymond_J._Reeves/ynYW6wIc">Raymond J. Reeves</a>(1909–1998)</td><td>1 August 1966</td><td>31 July 1969</td><td>2 years, 364 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td></td><td>McKee, Seth J.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Seth_J._McKee/Xs9KJnLu">Seth J. McKee</a>(1916–2016)</td><td>1 August 1969</td><td>30 September 1973</td><td>4 years, 60 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td>Clay, Lucius D. Jr.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Lucius_D._Clay_Jr./TLCAUo80">Lucius D. Clay Jr.</a>(1919–1994)</td><td>1 October 1973</td><td>29 August 1975</td><td>1 year, 332 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td></td><td>James, Daniel Jr.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Daniel_James_Jr./X6C5mw08">Daniel James Jr.</a>(1920–1978)</td><td>1 September 1975</td><td>5 December 1977</td><td>2 years, 95 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td></td><td>Hill, James E.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/James_E._Hill/bICvbWpT">James E. Hill</a>(1921–1999)</td><td>6 December 1977</td><td>31 December 1979</td><td>2 years, 25 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td></td><td>Hartinger, James V.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/James_V._Hartinger/h8tw4Leo">James V. Hartinger</a>(1925–2000)</td><td>1 January 1980</td><td>30 July 1984</td><td>4 years, 211 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td></td><td>Herres, Robert T.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Robert_T._Herres/A820m3E4">Robert T. Herres</a>(1932–2008)</td><td>30 July 1984</td><td>5 February 1987</td><td>2 years, 190 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td></td><td>Piotrowski, John L.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/John_L._Piotrowski/j6v42Q3f">John L. Piotrowski</a>(born 1934)</td><td>6 February 1987</td><td>30 March 1990</td><td>3 years, 52 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td></td><td>Kutyna, Donald J.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Donald_J._Kutyna/tojIK8E0">Donald J. Kutyna</a>(born 1933)</td><td>1 April 1990</td><td>30 June 1992</td><td>2 years, 90 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td></td><td>Horner, Charles A.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Chuck_Horner/uvENqVLl">Charles A. Horner</a>(born 1936)</td><td>30 June 1992</td><td>12 September 1994</td><td>2 years, 74 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td></td><td>Ashy, Joseph W.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Joseph_W._Ashy/9JSsaf9k">Joseph W. Ashy</a>(born 1940)</td><td>13 September 1994</td><td>26 August 1996</td><td>1 year, 348 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td></td><td>Estes, Howell M. III<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Howell_M._Estes_III/LlTHuQcP">Howell M. Estes III</a>(born 1941)</td><td>27 August 1996</td><td>14 August 1998</td><td>1 year, 352 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td></td><td>Myers, Richard B.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Richard_B._Myers/bVfR8cTc">Richard B. Myers</a>(born 1942)</td><td>14 August 1998</td><td>22 February 2000</td><td>1 year, 192 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td></td><td>Eberhart, Ralph E.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Ralph_Eberhart/xpPXI8J8">Ralph E. Eberhart</a>(born 1946)</td><td>22 February 2000</td><td>5 November 2004</td><td>4 years, 257 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td></td><td>Keating, Timothy J.<a href="/facts/Admiral_(United_States)/4EnHN4bR">Admiral</a><a href="/facts/Timothy_J._Keating/TwkJ41xH">Timothy J. Keating</a>(born 1948)</td><td>5 November 2004</td><td>23 March 2007</td><td>2 years, 138 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">U.S. Navy</a></td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td></td><td>Renuart, Victor E. Jr.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Victor_E._Renuart_Jr./D3zoTgPJ">Victor E. Renuart Jr.</a>(born 1949)</td><td>23 March 2007</td><td>19 May 2010</td><td>3 years, 57 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td></td><td>Winnefeld, James A. Jr.<a href="/facts/Admiral_(United_States)/4EnHN4bR">Admiral</a><a href="/facts/James_A._Winnefeld,_Jr./JzFwEd3A">James A. Winnefeld, Jr.</a>(born 1956)</td><td>19 May 2010</td><td>3 August 2011</td><td>1 year, 76 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">U.S. Navy</a></td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td></td><td>Jacoby, Charles H. Jr.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Charles_H._Jacoby_Jr./Jr7ylEfE">Charles H. Jacoby Jr.</a>(born 1954)</td><td>3 August 2011</td><td>5 December 2014</td><td>3 years, 124 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Army</a></td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td></td><td>Gortney, William E.<a href="/facts/Admiral_(United_States)/4EnHN4bR">Admiral</a><a href="/facts/William_E._Gortney/VJBF6jrI">William E. Gortney</a>(born 1955)</td><td>5 December 2014</td><td>13 May 2016</td><td>1 year, 160 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">U.S. Navy</a></td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td></td><td>Robinson, Lori J.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Lori_Robinson/GaRaSlPL">Lori J. Robinson</a>(born 1959)</td><td>13 May 2016</td><td>24 May 2018</td><td>2 years, 11 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td></td><td>O'Shaughnessy, Terrence J.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Terrence_J._O%27Shaughnessy/Qvbe7Y8X">Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy</a>(born 1964)</td><td>24 May 2018</td><td>20 August 2020</td><td>2 years, 88 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td></td><td>VanHerck, Glen D.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Glen_D._VanHerck/AXTfoPAS">Glen D. VanHerck</a>(born 1962)</td><td>20 August 2020</td><td>5 February 2024</td><td>3 years, 169 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td></td><td>Guillot, Gregory M.<a href="/facts/General_(United_States)/xepv3HkX">General</a><a href="/facts/Gregory_M._Guillot/VHPzJWEt">Gregory M. Guillot</a></td><td>5 February 2024</td><td><i>Incumbent</i></td><td>1 year, 49 days</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force</a></td></tr></tbody></table>