PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command welcomed a new Deputy Commander today during a ceremony on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
Canadian Forces Lt. Gen. Tom Lawson assumed the position of NORAD Deputy Commander from CF Lt. Gen. Marcel Duval, who held the position for the previous two years. Presiding over the ceremony was Gen. Charles Jacoby, Commander of NORAD and United States Northern Command.
Lt. Gen. Duval will be retiring after serving 36 years in uniform. He was previously the Deputy Commander of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region and the Commander of the Canadian NORAD Region.
“It is with some sadness that I depart this organization of which I have been part since 2004,” said Duval. “It is never easy to depart a team such as this and it is only made harder that I am departing and taking off the uniform I have worn since 1975.” In talking about the team that supported him since 2009, Duval said “If my time at NORAD is any indication, Lt. Gen. Lawson will be supported by a great team of the most dedicated and professional military personnel I have had the pleasure of knowing.”
Lt. Gen. Lawson comes to NORAD after previously holding the position of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff for the Canadian Forces.
“I am very pleased to be taking over from Lieutenant General Duval as NORAD Deputy Commander.” said Lt. Gen. Lawson. “Having spent years flying fighters in the air defense role, NORAD is a great fit for me. I’m looking forward to getting started and working with the great team that has been assembled here at NORAD.”
Lt. Gen. Lawson becomes the 22nd NORAD Deputy Commander.
NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that is responsible for the air defense of North America and maritime warning. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation's capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada.