Korbel School Students Visit NORAD, USNORTHCOM Headquarters
Annual Visit Informs Students Enrolled in International Security Master's Degree and Homeland Security Certificate Program
Korbel School students in the International Security Master's Degree and Homeland Security Certificate Program visited North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 8. The 20 students are enrolled in Dr. Ben Gochman's graduate course, North American Defense and Security (INTS 4989).
NORAD conducts aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning in the defense of North America. USNORTHCOM partners to conduct homeland defense, civil support and security cooperation to defend and secure the United States and its interests.
The highlight of this year's visit included roundtable discussions with Admiral Bill Gortney, Commander, NORAD and USNORTHCOM (4-Star Navy Admiral); LGEN Pierre St-Amand, NORAD Deputy Commander (3-Star Canadian General), and LTG Daniel Hokanson, USNORTHCOM Deputy Commander (3-Star Army General), on the future of North American Defense and Security relationship with Canada and Mexico. Other topics discussed included Ballistic Missile Defense, Threats to the Homeland, Transnational Criminal Organizations, and Homegrown Violent Extremism.
In addition, students received the Bi-Command Brief focusing on the missions of NORAD and USNORTHCOM and N-NC/J2 Threat Brief on Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations. The visit concluded with a briefing by Col. Armando Ayala, SEDENA (Mexican Army and Air Force) Liaison Officer to USNORTHCOM on the Mexico's Army and Air Force.
