The Florida Air National Guard’s 601st Air Operations Center have taken the reins for a new $15 million, 37,000-square-foot facility designed to help 1st Air Force and the Continental NORAD Region direct strategic air and homeland defense air forces for NORAD and US Northern Command. The new center, slated to become operational in June, will be called America’s Air Operations Center. The former Southeast Air Defense Sector ended its 37-year run last fall as part of the switchover to the new AOC.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.