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FACTSHEET | Aug. 2, 2023

Continental U.S. NORAD Region

Commander: Lt. Gen. Steven Nordhaus (USAF) 

Deputy Commander: Major-General S.T. Boyle, OMM, MSC, MSM, CD (RCAF) 

Mission: Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (CONR) provides airspace surveillance and control and directs air sovereignty activities for the continental United States (CONUS). 

Headquarters: Tyndall Air Force Base (Palm Beach, Florida) 

Area of Operations: Continental United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Contiguous U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone 

Participating Organizations: United States Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Air National Guard, United States Coast Guard and Civil Air Patrol 

Contributing Organizations: Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC) 

Number of U.S./Canadian staff at HQ: ~800 

Brief History of Command: Activated on Oct. 1, 1986, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) has the sole responsibility for ensuring the air sovereignty of the continental United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. As NORAD’s continental U.S. region, CONR provides air defense in the form of airspace warning and control and directs aerospace control activities.   

Although the U.S. Air Force had already deactivated its Aerospace Defense Command, the continental U.S. region, along with Alaskan and Canadian regions, provided an improved command and operational system for North American air defense. Co-located with CONR, the 601st Air Operations Center coordinates CONR’s activities and executes the NORAD aerospace control mission for the continental U.S.  

Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR has been the lead agency for Operation Noble Eagle in the continental United States. Its continuing mission is to protect the United States from further airborne aggression from inside and outside of the contiguous U.S. Today, CONR stands watch 24/7/365 and aids NORAD in providing continuous 360-degree defense of North America. 

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FB: @FirstAirForce 

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