NORAD

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (commonly abbreviated to NORAD NΟR-ad; French: Commandement de la défense aérospatiale de l'Amérique du Nord; CDAAN) is a bi-national mutual defense organization in Canada and the United States. Established 12 September 1957 as the North American Air Defense Command, NORAD is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, which also serves as the headquarters of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). During World War II, Canada contacted the United States for protection from German aggression. Later, during the beginning of the Cold War, the U.S. and Canada formed a permanent military alliance. NORAD has three regions: the Alaskan region, the Canadian region, and the American Continental region. The administrative offices are located in New Mexico and Arizona. NORAD has an alternate command center called Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado. NORAD has a total of 1,000 soldiers, personnel and military dependents.