News Archive

Search our archive of historical USNORTHCOM news, information and events.

 

 

 

Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, discusses the progress of several ongoing missions during the Aug. 20, 2007, commander's update briefing at NORAD and USNORTHCOM headquarters. This month, the two military commands have supported the space shuttle launch and landing, recovery efforts at the collapsed bridge in Minneapolis, rescue operations at Utah's Crandall Canyon mine, Russian bomber monitoring and Hurricane Dean response preparations.

Aug. 21, 2007

NORAD, USNORTHCOM meet challenges of multiple, diverse missions

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — This month, the two military commands charged with defending the homeland have also answered the call to support the launch and landing of Space Shuttle Endeavour, provide divers to assist in underwater recovery efforts in Minneapolis, transport rescue crews to Utah's Crandall Canyon mine, monitor Russian bombers

Aug. 20, 2007

Hurricane Dean response: USNORTHCOM ready to 'help save lives, prevent property loss'

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command continues to monitor the progress of Hurricane Dean and is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard and the state of Texas on hurricane response preparations."While we remain fully engaged in defense of the homeland,

Aug. 19, 2007

USNORTHCOM continuing to support Hurricane Dean operations

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is closely monitoring Hurricane Dean's progress and continues to respond to requests for Department of Defense support in preparation for landfall.USNORTHCOM has deployed the following personnel to support the federal response:• The Region X Defense Coordinating Officer and six-person Defense

Aug. 16, 2007

ARNORTH deploys team in preparation for Hurricane Dean arrival

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – The Department of Defense has deployed a Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element to the Caribbean in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Dean, which was upgraded from a tropical storm yesterday. The DCO and DCE deployed to support a FEMA Emergency Response Team - Advance in Puerto Rico and the

The I-35 bridge collapse site over the Mississippi river 13 days after the collapse. Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 are assisting other federal, state, and local authorities in the recovery efforts at the site.

Aug. 15, 2007

UCT-1 Integrates Engineering Skills to Support Minneapolis Search and Recovery Efforts

MINNEAPOLIS -- Seabees from Underwater Construction Team 1 (UCT-1) are assisting Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU-2) in the continuing search and recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Lt. Li Ping Sung, the executive officer of UCT-1, has been working with MDSU-2 divers in Minneapolis

Electrician’s Mate 1st Class (SS/DV) John Miller, from Monticello, Minn., volunteered to come to Minneapolis and assist in recovery efforts after the I-35 bridge collapse Aug 1st.Miller obtained persmission from his chain of command aboard USS Norfolk (SSN 714) and has been supporting MDSU-2 divers since his arrival August 6. USNORTHCOM is responsible for coordination of all active-duty military forces serving in Defense Support of Civil Authority roles.

Aug. 15, 2007

Minneapolis native diver returns home to help recovery efforts

MINNEAPOLIS -- When local native Electrician’s Mate 1st Class (SS/DV) John Miller heard the news and saw the images of the I-35W bridge collapse here Aug. 1, he knew he needed to go and help.Miller, who is from Monticello, a small city about 35 miles north of here, is a nuclear electrician and diving leading petty officer aboard the Los Angeles

Navy Diver 1st Class William Eversmann of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., surfaces after a salvage dive in the Mississippi River. MDSU-2 is assisting other federal, state, and local authorities managing disaster and recovery efforts at the site of the I-35 bridge collapse.

Aug. 13, 2007

Secretary of Transportation Praises DoD Efforts in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS -- Secretary of Transportation, the Honorable Mary E. Peters, visited the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse here, where Department of Defense forces are supporting search and recovery efforts.Secretary Peters met with Army Col. Mike Chesney, the Defense Coordinating Officer responsible for all military assets supporting civil

Secretary of Transportation, Mary E. Peters, tours the site of the I-35 bridge collapse over the Mississippi river, with Col. Michael Chesney, defense coordinating officer, Aug. 10. Secretary Peters was briefed on the current situation and the progress of the multi-agency search and recovery effort. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua Adam Nuzzo

Aug. 13, 2007

Defense Coordination Element Works Towards Recovery

Minneapolis – Response to tragedies such as the I-35 bridge collapse Aug. 1 often requires coordination among many agencies, whether local, state or federal. As more people and agencies - including active-duty military organizations and troops - join a disaster response, the amount of coordination involved may be the true test of success in the

Aug. 10, 2007

Navy unit brings unique capability to Minneapolis bridge recovery

MINNEAPOLIS -- Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., bring unique expeditionary diving and salvage capabilities to the search and recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse. MDSU-2 has earned its reputation during combat salvage operations to open the Al Faw waterway

Aug. 9, 2007

Navy divers continue search, recovery efforts in Minneapolis

Navy divers continued efforts yesterday in support of search and recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minn. The divers of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., reentered the waters of the Mississippi River before 7 a.m. to continue a meticulous, hand-over-hand

Navy divers from Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit 2 stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek prepare to enter the water of the I-35 bridge wreckage Aug. 07. When requested by the primary agency and approved by the Secretary of Defense, MDSU 2 may be utilized in support of civil authorities managing disaster recovery efforts.

Aug. 9, 2007

Minnesota governor thanks Navy for support

During an Aug. 8 survey of the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty expressed his gratitude to the Navy for its support of search and recovery efforts.Pawlenty visited the site with Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald C. Winter, and thanked Winter for the assistance the Navy is providing

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Donald C. Winter, tours the site of the I-35 bridge collapse over the Mississippi river, with Department of Defense, federal, state, and local officials, Aug. 8. Secretary Winter was briefed on the current situation and the progress of the multi-agency search and recovery effort.

Aug. 9, 2007

Navy secretary visits Minneapolis bridge site

The Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald C. Winter, surveyed recovery efforts at the site of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 8.Secretary Winter also met with Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 and officials from local, state and federal agencies involved in the search and recovery efforts.Two

Aug. 9, 2007

NORAD and USNORTHCOM civilian receives CFC hero award

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The chairman of the 2006 North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command Combined Federal Campaign was awarded the 2006 National CFC Military Civilian Hero Award for his efforts with the CFC and other volunteer activities in the community.Kirk Brown is a civilian employee in the NORAD and

Sailors of Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU 2) from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek are briefed by Warrant Officer Daniel Mikulski of MDSU 2 after arriving at 934th Air Reserve Base Minneapolis Minn. When requested by the primary agency and approved by the Secretary of Defense, MDSU 2 may be utilized in support of civil authorities managing disaster recovery efforts.

Aug. 8, 2007

DoD provides assistance to Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Department of Defense has deployed a Defense Coordinating Element to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to assist with last week's I-35 bridge collapse.The six-person Region V DCE, based in Chicago, prepares for civil support missions by working daily with federal and state emergency planners and consequence managers in the

A U.S. Navy Diver attached to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 prepares a lift bag to salvage tires off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. MDSU-2 is conducting salvage operations in conjunction with U.S. Army Deep Sea Divers, and U.S. Coast Guard divers through the Innovative Readiness Training program. The goal of the salvage mission is to retrieve approximately two million tires. The tires were placed on the ocean floor in the 1970's to act as an artificial reef. However, coral would not stick to the rubber and the tires now present an environmental hazard. Salvage operations will continue for the next month then resume next year. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jack Georges

Aug. 6, 2007

DoD, Navy and USNORTHCOM to support recovery effort in Minneapolis-St. Paul

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – At the request of the Department of Transportation, and as directed by the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Northern Command has deployed a Defense Coordinating Officer, a Defense Coordinating Element and a Navy Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in response to last week's I-35 bridge collapse.