PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Space Command will host change of command ceremonies Aug. 20 in Hangar 1 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. (select) Glen D. VanHerck assumes command of NORAD and USNORTHCOM from Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy. During the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. MDT, O’Shaughnessy will also retire from the U.S. Air Force after 34 years of service. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (promotable) James H. Dickinson will assume command of USSPACECOM from Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond at approximately 11:30 a.m. MDT. Dickinson served as USSPACECOM deputy commander and Raymond will continue as USSF's Chief of Space Operations.
Dickinson is a native of Estes Park, Colo., and a graduate of Colorado State University.
Mark T. Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, will officiate both ceremonies. Other guests of honor include Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Canadian Armed Forces Gen. Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff.
All ceremonies will also be live-streamed via the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/24642. Base security will be heightened the day of the ceremony, and only invited guests may attend.
NORAD is a bi-national military command between the U.S. and Canada, charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning in the defense of North America. USNORTHCOM Defends Our Homeland — deters, detects and defeats threats to the United States, conducts security cooperation activities with allies and partners and supports civil authorities.
USSPACECOM is the Department of Defense’s newest combatant command, which conducts operations in, from and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined force and defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners. Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the provisional headquarters for USSPACECOM until a permanent headquarters location is selected.