NORTHCOM

NORTHCOM stands for United States Northern Command. It is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense. NORTHCOM's area of responsibility includes the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and the surrounding waters out to 200 nautical miles. Its primary mission is to provide command and control of military operations that support the national interests of the United States and to synchronize the military components working to secure the homeland. This includes defending the U.S. from attack, providing military support to civil authorities during domestic emergencies, and coordinating security cooperation with Canada and Mexico. The command was established on October 1, 2002, in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Its headquarters are located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. NORTHCOM works closely with other government agencies and Canadian and Mexican defense forces to ensure a coordinated approach to homeland defense and security. It is responsible for overseeing various military branches operating within its designated region.