New commander selected for NORAD's Air Forces Northern

NORAD will soon have a new Air Force leader.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday said that President Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. Robert Williams to head the U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Williams, who is up for promotion to lieutenant general, pending Senate confirmation, would replace Lt. Gen. William Etter. Etter took control of the command in 2013.

Williams will serve under Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command.

Williams will be responsible for developing "contingency plans and conducting full-spectrum U.S. Air Force air and space operations in the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands," according to the Air Force's description of the position.

He is currently serving as the office of military cooperation chief, senior defense official and defense attaché-Kuwait, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Embassy, Kuwait.

Email: opawlyk@airforcetimes.com

Twitter: @Oriana0214

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