Navy admiral commands NORAD, Northern Command

  • Published
  • By Merrie Schilter-Lowe
  • North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  Before a full house, Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command from Gen. Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart in ceremonies here Nov. 5.

The former director of the Joint Staff is the first non-Air Force officer to command NORAD since its creation in 1958. General Eberhart had been commander of NORTHCOM since its creation following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He will retire during a separate ceremony later this year, after a 36-year active- duty military career.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz called General Eberhart a "trailblazer" who led in war and peace with "imagination, independence and strong influence."

Mr. Wolfowitz praised General Eberhart for bringing together the four military branches -- including the reserve components -- and the U.S. Coast Guard "under one new command." He also read a letter from Secretary Rumsfeld, which stated that General Eberhart was leaving behind "a legacy that will continue to enhance U.S. security for years to come."

When choosing the new commander, Mr. Wolfowitz said there was "no better person" than Admiral Keating to build on General Eberhart's accomplishments.

He said both General Eberhart and Admiral Keating possess the same "spirit" as the late Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, who "inspired confidence in others" and "went on to conduct that remarkable and unconventional raid on Tokyo in 1942."

Mr. Wolfowitz said the raid announced to the world that America "was there in the thick of the fight." He said the United States is again in the thick of things because of the war on terrorism, "and General Eberhart and Admiral Keating share the Doolittle spirit.

"They are both confident, direct men who mean what they say and say what they mean," he said, and both men are leaders with "the courage to take action and see (it) through."

Admiral Keating told servicemembers under his command, "You've done much for which you can be proud, so it is OK to walk with a bit of a swagger."

However, the new commander also cautioned that protecting the nation and its territories would require "constant vigilance and more." The "more" included innovation, aggressiveness and "rock-solid readiness to respond at a moment's notice."

Admiral Keating also said that the commands' bottom line is "securing liberty and maintaining the trust as the Canadian and American people expect and deserve."