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A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1A interceptor is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the Pacific Ocean. The SM-3 Block 1A successfully intercepted a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii.

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U.S. Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, right, and Lt. Col. Luke Thompson, 302nd Airlift Wing's chief of aerial fire fighting return from observing a C-130 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System certification flight April 22 here. The Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd AW held its annual MAFFS certification and re-certification for C-130 aircrews April 19-23. When it is determined MAFFS is needed, the National Interagency Fire Center through U.S. Northern Command requests the DOD's U.S. Air Force resources. These trained military personnel along with the MAFFS equipment are activated to supplement the civilian air tanker program during periods of high wildfire activity throughout the nation. In 2012 the 302nd AW MAFFS-equipped C-130s, aircrew and personnel supported fire suppression operations in 10 states, including drops on the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs. 2013 marks the 20th year the MAFFS mission has been flown by the Airmen and C-130s of the 302nd AW.

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Airman 1st Class Richie Meyer, 39th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, guides the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Emergency Response Vehicle into the back of a C-130J aircraft in preparation for a flight to a disaster response exercise in Montana May 5. The customized 2010 Chevrolet Suburban sports an advanced communications package that provides U.S. Northern Command with phone communications, secured computer networks, commercial internet and video teleconferencing in a mobile package small enough to be transported by a C-130. This is the first time the ERV is being airlifted to a site in support of an exercise.

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Gen. Sir Nicholas Parker, Former Commander, Land Forces, British Army, and Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, attend a roundtable discussion at NORAD and USNORTHCOM headquarters Jan. 16. The discussion included a “lessons learned” from the UK military’s contribution to the 2012 London Olympics as well as the U.S., Canada and the UK’s overlapping security interests. The visit provided a way to enhance NORAD and USNORTHCOM’s relationship with UK Ministry of Defence.

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Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, NORAD and USNORTHCOM commander, and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, speak at a press conference at NORAD and USNORTHCOM headquarters Jan. 23. Fugate met with Jacoby to discuss cooperation between FEMA and USNORTHCOM during future complex catastrophes such as Hurricane Sandy as well as the roles of dual status commanders.

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Army commanders from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador and security leaders from Panama arrive at U.S. Army North Jan. 30 as part of a U.S. Army South’s Central American Regional Leaders’ Conference. The commanders attended command briefings and heard from Oscar Salinas Jr., assistant chief, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, who touted the success Army North has had working with the Mexican army and air forces, known as SEDENA. “The Border Patrol’s new strategic plan focuses on integration with federal, state, local and foreign partnerships,” said Salinas. “The collaboration between Army North and SEDENA is one example of this integration.”

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Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command commander, cuts the USNORTHCOM birthday cake with Army Specialist Thomas Evans, NORAD and USNORTHCOM J6, during the command's birthday celebration Sept. 30. USNORTHCOM was established Oct. 1, 2002, in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities.

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A U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System II (MAFFS II) unit is loaded on to an Air Force Reserve Command C-130 Sept. 9 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. in preparation for support of aerial firefighting missions in Texas. Four Air Reserve Component MAFFS-equipped C-130s and crews have been tasked by U.S. Northern Command in support of the National Interagency Fire Center to supplement wildland firefighting efforts in Texas. Two C-130s from the 302nd Airlift Wing, stationed at Peterson AFB, Colo. and two C-130s from the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard will deploy to Austin, Texas.

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A Texas sun sets behind a North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 Hercules Sept. 10 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas. Just hours before, Airmen assigned to units in Colorado and North Carolina arrived at the airport to form the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group, the Air Force's response to a U.S. Forest Service support request to aid in fighting wildfires. The 302nd AEG's mission is to provide aerial firefighting capabilities using the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or "MAFFS" system.

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A Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 taxis for takeoff Sept. 11 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas. Two MAFFS aircraft were launched to provide containment support to Harrison County, Texas, where a 250-acre wildfire had closed sections of Interstate 20 and threatened more than 30 structures. After the MAFFS retardant drops, ground crews were able to get a hold on the fire, protecting the threatened structures.

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A Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules prepares for a fire retardant run over a wildfire Sept. 12 in Harrison County, Texas. Four MAFFS C-130 aircraft, assigned to the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group based at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, provided approximately 12,000 gallons of retardant to two fires in the northeast Texas county.

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Air Force Reserve aerial porters with the 302nd Airlift Wing's 39th Aerial Port Squadron make the final push to load a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Firefighting System II (MAFFS II) unit into a C-130 Sept. 9 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The 302nd Airlift Wing has been tasked by U.S. Northern Command to provide two C-130s, aircrew and support personnel to supplement wildland firefighting efforts in Texas.

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The sun sets beyond the Texas horizon as two C-130 Hercules remain ready for aerial firefighting support Sept. 10 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas. Just hours before, Airmen assigned to units in Colorado and North Carolina arrived at the airport to form the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group, the Air Force's response to a U.S. Forest Service support request to aid in fighting wildfires. The 302nd AEG's mission is to provide aerial firefighting capabilities using the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or "MAFFS" system.

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Mexican Navy Admiral Jorge Carlos Morales, Director of Naval Aviation, Mexico, provides his remarks during a ceremony marking the turnover of three UH-60 Helicopters to the Mexican Navy. The US Government provided thee UH-60 helicopters to the Mexican Navy as part of the Merida Initiative. The ceremony was held on August 24, 2011 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.

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Brigadier General Daniel Hokanson, Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy & Plans (J5) USNORTHCOM, presents the keys and the aircraft log book to Rear Admiral Jorge Carlos Morales, Director of Naval Aviation, Mexico, during a ceremony marking the turnover of three UH-60 Helicopters to the Mexican Navy. The US Government provided thee UH-60 helicopters to the Mexican Navy as part of the Merida Initiative. The ceremony was held on August 24, 2011 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Garner, pavement and equipment operator from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Works, clean up tree branches that were knocked lose during heavy rains and winds brought from Hurricane Irene at JBAB, D.C., Aug. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brittany E. Jones) (Released)

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Rain from Hurricane Irene is blown across the bow of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) during the height of the storm. Enterprise is moored at the shipyard for safety as Irene passes over the area. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael L. Croft)

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Maryland National Guard soldiers from units across the state, seen here Aug. 28, worked around the clock to provide critical support to civilian law enforcement and firefighting agencies in Salisbury, Md., during Hurricane Irene. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Rick Breitenfeldt)

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Col. Barrett Holmes, along with Michael Byrne, Glen Sachtleben and Capt. Chris Colbert, get a “bird’s-eye” view of a washed out Highway 12 along the North Carolina coastline Aug. 28 as they soar above in a UH-60 helicopter to conduct an initial damage assessment of North Carolina. Holmes is the defense coordinating officer for U.S. Army North’s Region IV Defense Coordinating Element. Byrne is a federal coordinating officer, and Sachtleben, an operations officer, both with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Colbert is the pilot of the helicopter from the 3rd Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade that conducted the flight mission in support of FEMA, which is the overall lead for the federal response effort for Hurricane Irene.

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Col. Barrett Holmes (left) meets with Michael Byrne, Glen Sachtleben, and Capt. Chris Colbert, as the four prepared to board a UH-60 helicopter Aug. 28 to conduct an initial damage assessment of North Carolina. Holmes is the defense coordinating officer for U.S. Army North’s Region IV Defense Coordinating Element. Byrne is a federal coordinating officer, and Sachtleben, an operations officer, both with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Colbert is the pilot of the helicopter from the 3rd Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade that conducted the flight mission in support of FEMA, which is the overall lead for the federal response effort for Hurricane Irene.

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