NORAD is a binational command responsible for promoting the security and sovereignty of North America, with a focus on identifying and assessing potential airborne threats. It was established in 1958 and is led by an American commander and a Canadian deputy commander. NORAD collects data from across North America and constantly evolves to respond to new threats. Its employees undergo rigorous background checks and are responsible for tracking down Santa Claus each December.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is an organization responsible for promoting the security and sovereignty of North America. It is a binational command, which includes both Canadian and American representatives who protect the mutual interests of these nations. The organization is sometimes known colloquially as Cheyenne Mountain, in reference to the command center at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
The groundwork for NORAD was laid during World War II when American and Canadian leaders met and expressed interest in sharing information and responsibilities of patrols. Since both nations were allies and both presumably had a vested interest in not being invaded, a cooperative effort made sense. After World War II, concerns about the growing Soviet threat led to a desire for more coordinated and centralized cooperation, and NORAD was born in 1958 as the North American Air Defense Command.
By convention, the Commander of this organization is American, and he is also in charge of the US Northern Command. The deputy commander is Canadian and each reports to both governments. The United States Air Force maintains day-to-day operations at Cheyenne Mountain, and support is also provided by Canadian military personnel.
NORAD has a variety of features. The most obvious is the identification and assessment of potential airborne threats, such as missile launches. It also operates warning systems in the United States and Canada and monitors air traffic over North America. It is authorized to respond to credible threats to the United States and maintains an isolated bunker at the command center for use in the event of a major aerospace strike.
NORAD Central Command collects data from across North America, supported by bases in Manitoba, Florida and Alaska. Like other military organizations, it is constantly evolving to respond to new threats and global problems. For example, the organization pays less attention to concerns about missile attacks than it did during the Cold War, and more energy is spent monitoring air traffic to avoid a repeat of September 11, 2001, in which four airliners commercials were hijacked and used as bombs.
Because NORAD employees are responsible for the safety and security of the North American continent, they undergo rigorous background checks. Employees are selected by the Canadian Forces Air Command and the United States Air Force. These employees are also responsible, incidentally, for tracking down Santa Claus each December, with the assistance of a large network of civilian volunteers.
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