A group of 29 civic leaders recently spent four days traveling to sites in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to see firsthand border issues and airspace defense challenges facing NORAD and US Northern Command today. NORAD/NORTHCOM Spokesman Mike Perini said it was a tour designed to focus on “critical mission sets.” The group included many who hold public service and homeland security positions in various states.
On Jan. 4, a dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors departed Puerto Rico, where they had landed following their participation in Operation Absolute Resolve. Those fighters appeared to have flown directly from their home base at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., to participate in the operation and returned there two days…

