Geographic Combatant Command

Northern Command

NORTHCOM

NORTHCOM · United States Northern Command provides command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts.

Area of Responsibility: United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean

Essential Preparedness Supplies

Start your emergency preparedness journey

Northern Command Mission Overview

U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) defends the U.S. homeland, deters and defeats threats, conducts security cooperation with allies and partners, and supports civil authorities when directed. Integrated and aligned with the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the command protects North American airspace, maritime approaches, and critical infrastructure across an area of responsibility that includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, surrounding waters, the Arctic approaches, and, as of 2025, Greenland. Headquarters are located at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

USNORTHCOM plans, organizes, and executes homeland defense and civil-support missions, including domestic disaster relief, counter-drug coordination, and consequence management for major incidents. The command operates through standing Joint Task Forces and exercises command and control of two subordinate unified commands and four service component commands. Arctic Edge 2026, a NORAD and Northern Command exercise, focuses on cruise-missile defense in the Arctic. Homeland defense, NORAD modernization, critical-infrastructure protection, and continuous readiness across air, land, sea, and cyber domains remain ongoing priorities.

  • Homeland defense and aerospace warning.
  • Defense support to civil authorities.
  • Security cooperation with regional partners.

United States Northern Command provides command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts.

Source: USNORTHCOM mission overview (northcom.mil).

Headquarters

Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

Area of Responsibility

United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean

NORTHCOM area of responsibility map

Latest NORTHCOM Alerts

Recent intelligence updates for Northern Command.

Other Geographic Commands

Explore other geographic combatant commands with similar mission areas.

Get NORTHCOM Alerts

Subscribe to receive instant notifications when significant events occur in this command's area of responsibility.

Explore More

Regional Alert Feeds