Colorado Springs – The commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, both based here, may soon be heading to Hawaii to lead the U.S. Pacific Command.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended that Navy Adm. Timothy Keating change commands and be replaced by Air Force Lt. Gen. Victor “Gene” Renuart Jr.
Renuart, a graduate of Indiana University, is currently the senior military assistant to Gates. Renuart will be nominated for a fourth star.
The Senate must approve both of Gates’ recommendations.
Keating took command of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Northcom in November 2004 and led the military’s response to Hurricane Katrina.
Last year, acting upon an internal study, he decided to move the nation’s early-warning operations out of Cheyenne Mountain in southwest Colorado Springs. Intelligence crews already have made the move to nearby Peterson Air Force Base, home to Northcom, the nation’s homeland defense command.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, is studying the costs and security implications of the move, which has been questioned by some lawmakers.
Keating has said that the move would consolidate early-warning operations, improve efficiency and eventually save money.
U.S. Pacific Command oversees American land, sea and air forces in the Pacific and Indian oceans and southeast Asia. Adm. William J. Fallon, the current commander, has been nominated to lead U.S. Central Command, overseeing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
