University of Manitoba - Centre for Defence and Security Studies - NORAD
NORAD

* Summary*

 

Multi-part, International Study of NORAD

Drs. Jim Fergusson and Andrea Charron are heading a multi-part, international study on NORAD from May 2013 to May 2014.

Over the past two decades, the Canada-United States defence partnership, centered in particular on the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), has confronted many new issues beyond its original mandate, and missions, including terrorism, missile defence, cyber, and maritime monitoring. The Arctic looms as another potential area of responsibility in the future, beyond NORAD’s traditional air control mission. National command structures have been transformed, with the emergence of U.S. Northern Command in the wake of 9/11, followed by the establishment of Canada Command, and subsequently its merger with Expeditionary Forces and Support Commands into Joint Operations Command. A well, NORAD has been modernized as a function of the closure of its Cheyenne Mountain Headquarters, and move to Peterson Air Force Base.

Since the release of the Binational Planning Group Report, little attention has been paid to the functionality of NORAD. Given the changes to NORAD, the time is appropriate to examine the current structure of NORAD relative to its range of existing and potentially new missions, and its relationships with relevant national commands on both sides of the border. This project evaluates the current functional utility of the NORAD command structure, its sub-components, and links to national commands in light of the changes that have occurred over the last two decades, and potential future changes.

*Workshop*

NORAD in Perpetuity? Challenges and Opportunities
WORKSHOP
21 February 2014

Centre for Defence and Security Studies, University of Manitoba
Allan Borger Boardroom, Engineering Building
08h00-17h00
Over the past two decades, the Canada-United States defence partnership, centered in particular on the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), has confronted many new issues beyond its original mandate and missions, including terrorism, missile defence, cyber, and maritime monitoring. The Arctic looms as another potential area of responsibility in the future beyond NORAD’s traditional early warning and air control mission. National command structures have been transformed, with the emergence of U.S. Northern Command in the wake of 9/11, followed by the establishment of Canada Command, and subsequently its merger with Expeditionary Forces and Support Commands into Joint Operations Command. Finally, the NORAD Agreement has been renewed indefinitely, and NORAD has been modernized as a function of the closure of its Cheyenne Mountain Headquarters, and move to Peterson Air Force Base.
Since the release of the Binational Planning Group Final Report on Canada and the United States Enhanced Military Cooperation (13 March 2006), little attention has been paid to the functionality of NORAD. Given changes to, and new challenges for NORAD, it is essential to examine the current structure of NORAD relative to its range of existing and potentially new missions, and its relationships with relevant national commands on both sides of the border. This research project evaluates the current functional utility of the NORAD command structure, its sub-components, and links to national commands in light of the changes that have occurred over the last two decades, and identifies and evaluates possible structural options for the future.

*Report*

 

NORAD in Perpetuity? Challenges and Opportunities for Canada

 

For further information, please contact
Dr. Andrea Charron – Andrea.Charron@ad.umanitoba.ca
Dr. James Fergusson – James.Fergusson@ad.umanitoba.ca