Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command


The commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command is a four-star general or admiral in the United States Armed Forces who serves as the head of all United States and Canadian joint aerospace military operational forces, stationed within the Northern American territories. The commander of NORAD concurrently serves as the commander of United States Northern Command and is the head of all U.S. military forces within the command's geographical area of responsibility. The commander of NORAD is nominated for appointment by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate. Prior to 2001, the title for the commander of NORAD was called the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Deputy commanders

In recent years deputy commanders have always been Canadian air force lieutenant generals. Prior to the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, the deputy commanders were RCAF Air Marshals.
NumberNamePhotoStart of termEndNotable positions held before or after
1Air Marshal Roy Slemon, CB, CBE, CD12 September 195714 August 1964Chief of the Air Staff
2Air Marshal Clarence Rupert Dunlap, CBE, CD15 August 196425 August 1967Chief of the Air Staff
3Air Marshal William R. MacBrien OBE, CD26 August 196722 January 1969
4Lieutenant-General Frederick Ralph Sharp CMM, DFC, CD23 January 196914 September 1969Chief of the Defence Staff
5Lieutenant-General Edwin ReynoSeptember 1969August 1972
6Lieutenant-General Reginald J. Lane, DSO, DFC, CDSeptember 1972October 1974
7Lieutenant-General Richard C. Stovel, AFC, CDOctober 1974September 1976
8Lieutenant-General David R. AdamsonSeptember 1976August 1978
9Lieutenant-General Kenneth E. Lewis18 August 197824 June 1980Commander of Air Command
10Lieutenant-General Kenneth J. ThorneycroftJune 1980May 1983
11Lieutenant-General Donald C. MacKenzieMay 1983August 1986
12Lieutenant-General Donald M. McNaughtonAugust 1986August 1989
13Lieutenant-General Robert W. Morton, CMM, CDAugust 1989August 1992
14Lieutenant-General Brian L. SmithAugust 1992August 1994
15Lieutenant-General J. D. O'BlenisAugust 1994August 1995
16Lieutenant-General L. W. F. CuppensAugust 1995April 1998
17Lieutenant-General G C Macdonald, CMM, MVO, CDApril 1998August 2001Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Canadian Forces
18Lieutenant-General Ken R. Pennie, CMM, CD8 August 200114 July 2003Chief of the Air Staff
19Lieutenant-General Rick Findley, CMM, MSC, CD14 July 20032 August 2007
20Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, OC, CMM, MSC, CD2 August 200710 July 2009
21Lieutenant-General Marcel Duval, CMM, CD10 July 200915 August 2011
21Lieutenant-General Thomas J. Lawson, CMM, CD15 August 20114 September 2012Chief of the Defence Staff
22Lieutenant-General Alain Parent, CMM, CD4 September 20121 July 2015
23Lieutenant-General Pierre St-Amand, CMM, CD1 July 201520 July 2018
24Lieutenant General Christopher J. Coates, CMM, MSM, CD20 July 2018present