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NORAD NEWS
News | July 26, 2006

Dept. of Homeland Security Chief of Staff visits NORAD and USNORTHCOM

By NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Dept. of Homeland Security Chief of Staff Mr. John Wood and Dept. of Homeland Security Senior Military Advisor Rear Adm. Daniel B. Lloyd traveled here July 21 to formally announce the selection of Mr. William Brundage as the Senior Dept. of Homeland Security Advisor to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).

“Because of the importance that DHS places on our relationship with NORAD-USNORTHCOM we wanted to come out here and personally meet with Bill and welcome him to the team,” Wood said. He described Brundage as “an important liaison between DHS and NORAD-USNORTHCOM. He will serve as an advisor to Adm. Keating but also as an advisor to [DHS] Sec. [Michael] Chertoff.”

“We have four components of the Dept. of Homeland Security represented here [at NORAD-USNORTHCOM], the United States Coast Guard, FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency], TSA [Transportation Security Administration] and CBP [Customs and Border Protection], but each of those individually don’t speak for the department,” said Lloyd. “Bill Brundage’s new position will speak across the represented DHS components and further enhance the coordination and work that we do with NORAD-USNORTHCOM.”

The Senior DHS Advisor provides the DHS perspective to the NORAD-USNORTHCOM commander and ensures effective synchronization of all DHS and NORAD-USNORTHCOM activities that support homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities, Brundage said. “In committing a senior executive full time to interacting with the NORAD-USNORTHCOM commander, DHS has clearly signaled the importance of the relationship.”

Wood characterized the relationship between DHS and NORAD-USNORTHCOM as “a good strong relationship” and that he looked forward to continuing to build upon some of the successes already achieved. He cited such examples as the implementation of a “common operating picture,” a program that allows senior decision makers, military and civilian, to share the same view of an event, and the development of pre-scripted mission assignments that enable NORAD-USNORTHCOM to rapidly respond to requests for support to civil authorities. As well, Lloyd noted that Joint Task Force North, a subordinate element of USNORTHCOM, annually conducts approximately 50 to 60 missions in support of CBP. “And that’s just another example of the work that we do together and the support that NORAD-USNORTHCOM provides,” said Lloyd.

Wood, Lloyd and Brundage spent the morning with NORAD-USNORTHCOM leaders discussing such critical issues as pandemic influenza, hurricane season preparations, terrorism prevention, and border operations. Wood said he was taking away an enhanced understanding of NORAD-USNORTHCOM efforts in emergency preparedness planning, information sharing, and support to CBP. He leaves behind a representative who is well acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of NORAD-USNORTHCOM in the Global War on Terror.

“I’m honored that Sec. Chertoff has seen fit to ask me to take our cooperation to a whole new level and I’m excited about the challenges ahead,” said Brundage, whose previous positions included that of technical advisor, division chief and acting deputy director of the NORAD-USNORTHCOM Programs and Resources Directorate. Prior to that he served as program analyst for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. He is the second Senior DHS Advisor to NORAD-USNORTHCOM, but the first civilian to hold the title; Lloyd served in the position prior to his current appointment as DHS Senior Military Advisor.

“I look forward to enhancing our cooperation in the areas of homeland security, homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities to help ensure the U.S. government can effectively execute its responsibilities,” Brundage said.

Photo cutline: Dept. of Homeland Security Chief of Staff Mr. John Wood (left) and Dept. of Homeland Security Senior Military Advisor Rear Adm. Daniel B. Lloyd (right) traveled to Colorado Springs Friday to announce the selection of Mr. William Brundage (center) as Senior Dept. of Homeland Security Advisor to NORAD-USNORTHCOM. Photo by PH1 Shane Wallenda.