NORAD chief pilots his ceremonial last flight before retiring

Retiring NORAD chief pilots ceremonial last flight

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The general in charge of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command has piloted his ceremonial last flight before retiring.

Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart flew a C-130 on Wednesday on a 3 1/2-hour flight that began and ended at Colorado’s Peterson Air Force Base, home of the North American Aerospace Command and the Northern Command.

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canada command that monitors air and space threats. The Northern Command oversees the U.S. military’s homeland defense efforts.

Renuart is stepping down July 1 after a 39-year career that included 60 combat missions as a pilot.

He will be succeeded by James A. Winnefeld Jr., a Navy vice admiral who’s been nominated for promotion to admiral.