PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command will hold a change-of-command ceremony at 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Savings Time Friday at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Senate yesterday confirmed the renomination of Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating to the rank of admiral and reassignment as commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. Adm. Keating will relinquish command of NORAD and USNORTHCOM after more than two years.
During the same confirmation process, Air Force Lt. Gen. Gene Renuart, senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, was confirmed to be promoted to the rank of general and appointed as the new commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM.
Guests of honor at the change-of-command ceremony are expected to include Secretary of Defense Gates, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, and Canadian Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. Rick Hillier.
“Admiral Keating and Lieutenant General Renuart have shown a requisite combination of military, diplomatic and intellectual skills to be successful in these two positions,” said Secretary Gates following his recommendation to the President in February.