NorthCom gets new chief

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 6, 2004 | by PAM ZUBECK THE GAZETTE

If terrorists think America's shoreline is the nation's most vulnerable place, they're wrong, the new leader of the nation's homeland defense agency said Friday after taking command.

"Believe me, we have a formidable, layered defense in place -- active and effective -- right now," Navy Adm. Timothy Keating said during a news briefing after assuming control of the U.S. Northern Command.

He also took charge of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, becoming the first non-Air Force officer to lead NORAD in its 46-year history, in a ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base, where both commands are based.

Keating succeeds retiring Gen. Ralph "Ed" Eberhart, chief of NORAD since February 2000, who oversaw the creation of the Northern Command in October 2002 in response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Keating's assignment is viewed by some as a signal that the Pentagon plans to expand NORAD's and North-Com's roles to include a maritime mission.

NORAD, a U.S.-Canadian military command, monitors missiles, aircraft and space objects and issues warnings about threats.

The Northern Command protects the homeland and aids civilian authorities in natural disasters.

Neither is specifically assigned to monitor seaborne threats.

Eberhart has said a maritime mission is a logical addition, because he thinks terrorists are targeting ports and shorelines -- areas he sees as less secure than airspace.

Some say Canadian and U.S. officials are looking to include maritime policies in a NORAD agreement due for renewal in 2006.

Keating said Friday that some work is being done.

"It hasn't received quite as much attention because of the way the terrorists came at us on the 11th of September," he said. "There's a lot more going on out there than some folks know."

He didn't elaborate but said more steps could be taken, noting that he recently met with Navy and Coast Guard officials.

"They have very good ideas, as do we, and in the days, weeks and months ahead, we're going to try to incorporate those ideas to make sure that the terrorists understand they can't get at us through the maritime domain."

Responding to a question from a reporter from a Mexican TV station, Keating said he wants to build a relationship with Mexico but stopped short of calling for adding Mexico to NORAD.

"We're going to do all we can to continue to build on an already very, very good, solid, mutual understanding between the United States and Mexico," he said.

Keating has served in several multiservice roles and has logged 5,000 flight hours.

Eberhart will move to the Washington, D.C., area to be president of the Armed Forces Benefits Association in Alexandria, Va., which provides banking and life insurance services to military members.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, attended the ceremony.