http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Aerospace_Defense_Command
Above is a link explaining the bi-command structure of NORAD. An American four star and a Canadian three star. I had thought that at one time or another a Canadian was in command but didn’t find a reference to that.
I don’t know what the German will command. I had thought that US forces never served under a foreign commander. In WW1 the allies desperately lobbied to use the US forces as piecemeal replacements for their losses. But the general in command refused, so it must have been up to him. He held them out of combat as long as possible as they were insufficiently trained. Then he relented and threw them into battle (Bellow Wood?) to save the allies bacon and, as I recall, we took multi-thousand casualties, which was common in nearly every battle then.
If a foreign commander lost significant US forces lives I’d imagine that would cause a significant political problem at home. Anybody know if this position commands people or is it advisory?
Thank you for that link. I imagine as Chief of Staff, you would see a LOT of classified material and have input on decisions? I wonder what those that serve in this division, the Jr. Officers and enlisted think?
NORAD makes sense, given the missiles aimed at the US would fly over Canada, among other things, right?