Gen. Howell Estes—NORAD, Space Command Chief—Dies at 82 March 22, 2024 | By John A. Tirpak Gen. Howell M. Estes III, whose last Air Force assignments were as commander of NORAD and U.S. and Air Force Space Commands, has died at age 82. Estes flew 169 missions in the Vietnam War and commanded the super-secret F-117 fighter unit.