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NORAD, Northern Command Getting New Leader

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) — The two military operations responsible for protecting North America are getting a new commander.

Navy Adm. Bill Gortney will formally take charge of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command on Friday.

He succeeds Army Gen. Charles Jacoby Jr.

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canada command that defends the skies over both nations and monitors sea approaches. Northern Command is responsible for defending U.S. territory from attack and helping civilian authorities.

Both are based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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