U.S. Northern Command commander discusses roles, need for tactical airlift

  • Published
  • By Capt. David Faggard
  • 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The military commander responsible for all command and control of DoD homeland defense efforts and defense support to civil authorities understands the need for tactical airlift. 

General Gene Renuart, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, took time to learn a little bit more about tactical airlift as he attended C-130 training here at the Department of Defense's C-130 Center of Excellence recently.

"As NORTHCOM commander, I get a lot of opportunities to fly and work with Airmen that provide tactical airlift," the four star general said. "Virtually every state has some role with C-130s and flying with those crews allows me to see their readiness and how their unit fits into state and federal response plans."
Tactical airlift is vastly important, according to Gen. Renuart. Airlift, such as flying civic leaders on orientation flights or the recent missions in support of the heavy winter snows in Colorado and the Midwest--where hay was airdropped to stranded horses and cows--were some homeland examples of how tactical airlift supports the nation, according to the General.

But, what the C-130 is most known for is the support they provide to the warfighter, according to the General.

"The C-130s are workhorses of war," he said. "At anytime we have 60-70 aircraft deployed to the Central Command Area of Responsibility supporting operations there." Operations like those of the 463rd Airlift Group stationed here, but forward deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, which were recently credited with taking more than 6,200 convoys off the dangerous roads there.

The General also stated the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard C-130s are busy supporting fire suppression operations by airdropping suppressants onto wildfires in the dry parts of the country.

"Tactical airlift is absolutely critical to the Northern Command mission," the General said. "Lift is always the long pole in the tent for contingencies and for supporting operations at home, like moving FEMA or Homeland Security supplies and teams."

The C-130 is a capable aircraft, but the fleet must be modernize and recapitalized, according to the General. Some of those changes will come with the addition of the Joint Cargo Aircraft and newer C-130Js, he said.

"Tactical airlift plays a crucial role in allowing Northern Command to provide support throughout the country," he said.

Northern Command was established in 2002 to provide command and control of DoD homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities in an area of responsibility to include air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles. It also includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida.

The commander of US Northern Command also commands the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a bi-national command responsible for aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada, Alaska and the continental United States.

General Renuart is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flight hours in aircraft such as the T-37, AT-38, A-10, F-16, F-15, C-130 and HH-60. He has flown 60 combat missions. Prior to assuming his current position, General Renuart was the senior military assistant to the secretary of defense. He served as the principal immediate office adviser to the Secretary in all matters pertaining to the department.

The C-130 Center of Excellence provides aircrew and maintenance training for 31 nations and the Department of Defense.