TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Leadership of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region – First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) changed hands during a change of command ceremony held here today.
An age old tradition of passing of flags, or colors, symbolized the change in leadership as Lt. Gen. Marc. H. Sasseville assumed command of CONR-1AF (AFNORTH) from Lt. Gen. R. Scott Williams. The NORAD and U.S. Northern Command commander, Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, and Air Combat Command commander, Gen. James M. Holmes, presided over the ceremony.
“My wife and I are thrilled to be back in Florida especially, Tyndall Air Force Base. I’m truly honored to be here accepting the flag from Lt. Gen. Williams,” said Sasseville.
As the Combined Force Air Component Commander for NORAD and the Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Northern Command, Sasseville will oversee three distinct missions: homeland air defense for the continental United States, defense support of civil authorities, and theater security cooperation for North America.
“I’ve been intimately familiar in a special way with this command since September 11, 2001. In the years that have followed, the enterprise has made significant changes in how we respond to threats within the United States; we are more prepared now because we have learned hard lessons,” said Sasseville.
With the transfer of responsibility for continental air defense from the active component of the Air Force to the Air National Guard in 1995, First Air Force became the first numbered air force to be made up primarily of citizen Airmen.
Prior to serving as the CONR-1AF (AFNORTH) commander, Lt. Gen.re Sasseville served as the Deputy Director of the Air National Guard.
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