NorthCom leadership selected

National Guard, Aug 2002

The Senate confirmed Air Force Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart June 27 as commander in chief of the newly created U.S. Northern Command, or NorthCom.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki followed late last month by naming Maj. Gen H. Steven Blum as the NorthCom chief of staff.

Eberhart will direct oversight of homeland security and coordinate military operations with Canada and Mexico from NorthCom headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The Senate also allowed Eberhart to remain commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, and U.S. Space Command.

Blum, a Maryland Army National Guardsman, will leave his post as commanding general of the National Guard's storied 29th Infantry Division to take the assignment.

Blum recently commanded the U.S. sector during the 29th's six-month peacekeeping rotation in Bosnia, which ended in April.

Beginning operations on Oct. 1, NorthCom will work with NORAD, have overall military responsibility for homeland security.

NorthCom's jurisdiction will span both coasts and extend 500 miles into the oceans.