NorthCom will see a change in leadership, if Senate agrees

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 3, 2007 | by TOM ROEDER THE GAZETTE

The top officer at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs could be headed to Hawaii, the Pentagon said Friday.

If the Senate concurs, Adm. Timothy Keating will move to Pacific Command in Hawaii and oversee American defense programs throughout eastern Asia. He would be replaced in Colorado Springs by a top aide to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Lt. Gen. Victor "Gene" Renuart Jr.

Renuart's promotion to the four-star job would hand the command back to the Air Force after two years of Navy reign over the military's organization to oversee homeland defense and response to domestic natural disasters. The commander of Northern Command also heads the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which oversees protection of the United States and Canada from missiles and airborne threats.

Keating came to the command in November 2004 and oversaw the military's response to Hurricane Katrina. He also spearheaded a move to pull most NORAD functions from the underground Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.

He has said Cheyenne Mountain will remain on "warm standby," ready to be used in a crisis but not fully manned.

Keating is returning to his roots at Pacific Command, where the admiral previously served as a flag lieutenant and commanded a carrier battle group.

Renuart, who now serves as the secretary's liaison officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is trained as a pilot and has flown the Air Force's A-10, F-16 and C-130 aircraft.

A 1971 graduate of Indiana University, Renuart has spent more than a third of his Air Force career in Europe, including duty in Germany and England.

He has also served as director of operations for U.S. Central Command, where he oversaw planning for the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The date for the switch at Northern Command will be set after the Senate acts on the nominations.