The 601st Air Operations Center (often referred to as America's AOC) plans, directs, and assesses air and space operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). The AOC provides aerospace warning and control for NORAD Defensive Counter Air activities. Additionally, it directs Air Force air and space capabilities in support of USNORTHCOM homeland security and civil support missions.

America's AOC fills the critical need to meet the challenge of directing all air sovereignty activities for the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and their surrounding waters.

Another critical mission performed at America's AOC includes participation with Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) in Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) to provide urgent life-saving relief and rescue operations during natural or man-made disasters.

With each of these on-going operations, America's AOC remains ever vigilant in its mission of defending the homeland from aerial attack. Manning for America's AOC primarily comes from the 101st Air and Space Operations Group (AOG) of the Florida Air National Guard. The 101st AOG, formally known as the Southeast Air Defense Sector, stood up on July 1, 2009.