Aerospace Engineering graduate, Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., is serving as Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Following his graduation from Georgia Tech, Winnefeld served as a naval aviator with two fighter squadrons and as an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School known as Top Gun. He has commanded Fighter Squadron 211, the amphibious transport dock ship Cleveland, and the carrier Enterprise. He has also led combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in the Persian Gulf.  Winnefeld served as commander, 6th Fleet, and senior aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He most recently served as the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff.

Admiral Winnefeld’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and five Battle Efficiency awards.

Northern Command was established in 2002 to oversee homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities. The command is assigned forces whenever necessary to execute missions, as ordered by the president or secretary of defense.