TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region is NORAD's most outstanding unit for its support of the common defense and partnership in protecting the U.S. and Canadian homelands in 2008.
NORAD Commander Gen. Gene Renuart presented the unit's commander, Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, with the Partridge-Slemon Award for "exceptional meritorious service" during the NORAD Commanders' Conference held at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., May 7.
CONR provides airspace surveillance and control and directs air sovereignty activities for the continental United States.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR has been the lead agency for Operation Noble Eagle, an ongoing mission to protect the continental United States from further terrorist aggression from inside and outside of U.S. borders.
In 2008 CONR units executed 8,200 alert and flying missions, prosecuted 400 tracks of interest, protected the President, the space shuttle, United Nations General Assembly, both political conventions, the State of the Union Address, etc. The unit's Air and Space Operations Center became the world's second busiest AOC, countering all threats to the nation's air sovereignty.
"This award recognizes the contributions and dedication made by our citizen Airmen, Canadian partners, civilian employees and contractors in defending North America," said Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, CONR commander. "I'm extremely proud to lead a team of true professionals, and was honored to accept this award on the unit's behalf from General Renuart."
The award is named for the first commander and deputy commander of NORAD - Gen. Earle E. Partridge and Canadian Air Marshall C. Roy Slemon. It is presented annually to recognize the outstanding directorate, region, sector, Air Force Space Command warning unit or other contributing unit in support of the NORAD air defense mission.