One day after Canada and the US celebrated NORAD’s 50th anniversary, dignitaries from both nations participated in the opening ceremony of the new NORAD-US Northern Command integrated command center May 13 at Peterson AFB, Colo. “This is really the culmination of a lot of great effort,” said Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM. He added, “Our command center will be a huge improvement in our ability to integrate situational awareness, to begin to respond to a major event in either of our countries, and then to take the national capabilities that respond to disasters, both man-made and natural, and bring relief to our citizens in our communities.” NORAD and NORTHCOM shared a commander and a headquarters building since 2002, when the latter was established, but up until now, not a fully integrated command center. NORAD formerly ran its operations out of Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colo. (Peterson report by Army Sgt. 1st Class Gail Braymen)
Air Force F-16 pilots are testing out new sensors that could help maximize their performance and avoid deadly accidents while flying fast fighter jets under heavy G-forces and stressful conditions.