The JTF-NCR operations center stays focused during an uneventful, securitywise, presidential State of the Union address. (photo by Don Manuszewski)

Joint Task Force National Capital Region activated and partnered with other military and civilian organizations to create a safe, secure environment for Tuesday’s State of the Union address.

“Aggressive interagency coordination was the key to success,” summed up Col. Joe Torres, JFHQ-NCR J3, the chief of operations for the task force activated by U.S. Northern Command to meet what is now a well-established National Special Security Event mission, designated by the Department of Homeland Security.

 “While the address occurred in the joint operations area of the command, we were not alone in our response,” JFHQ-NCR commander, Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III said. “We are part of a team providing multi-layered security for the event. We were in support of the lead federal agency, which in this case was the U.S. Secret Service,” the presidential protective detail that is now part of DHS.

Maj. Gen. Richard Rowe, USNORTHCOM chief of operations, noted the mission to protect the homeland knits local, state, federal and military efforts and that the address by President George W. Bush was the fifth State of the Union address to have been designated an NSSE.

Some of the participating organizations included the National Guard, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Other NORAD and USNORTHCOM elements supporting the State of the Union Address included the Continental United States NORAD Region, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., commanded by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Marvin "Scott" Mayes; and Joint Task Force Civil Support, Hampton, Va., commanded by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bruce Davis.

"We know who all the players are," said U.S. Navy Fire Controlman 1st Class David Leonard, who served as duty non-commissioned officer in the USNORTHCOM

NORAD/NORTHCOM Commander Adm. Timothy J. Keating looks over JFHQ-NCR facilities prior to State Funeral NSSE. Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III is his escort and host. (photo by Tom Mani)

Joint Operations Center during the event. "We know all these people, by face or phone or email or reputation." He described the domestic interagency effort as resembling "an international coalition."

The Department of Defense has traditionally provided support to significant national events such as the State of the Union address, presidential inaugurations and the G-8 Summit. Historically, military organizations have provided medical support, aviation support, consequence management planning and other specialized capabilities in response to a request from the lead federal agency.

After Sept. 11, 2001,. DoD created U.S. Northern Command and under it the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region to bring unity and focus when homeland security issues become homeland defense matters and when civil authorities turn in need for defense support.

JFHQ-NCR is the single point of integration for military support in the six-county region surrounding and including the District of Columbia. For more information see www.jfhqncr.northcom.mil

Days before the event, NORAD/NORTHCOM commander Adm. Timothy J. Keating visited Fort McNair, D.C., and the JFHQ-NCR Joint Operations Center, following earlier briefings at the Pentagon regarding State of the Union security. “I told Secretary [of Defense Donald J.] Rumsfeld they had the right folks on the mission here in the NCR.”

“I hope you have a dull evening,” he quipped.

“That was the plan,” Tores said.