NORAD and NORTHCOM Missile Defenders Honored in Colorado
Industry: Non Profit & Charity
The event celebrated the historic relationship between the United States and Canada, and emphasized that North American security is a team effort.
Colorado Springs, CO (PRUnderground) May 7th, 2014
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance held its 2nd annual NORAD and USNORTHCOM Missile Warning and Defender of the Year Award Ceremony on Friday, May 2nd 2014. The award honors the contributions to North American security of the U.S. and Canadian military personnel engaged in missile warning and defense. Presenting the awards were NORTHCOM Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Michael D. Dubie (USAF), and NORAD Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Alain J. Parent (Royal Canadian Air Force).
The four awardees were those singled out by their commanding officers and peers for having performed their duties with exceptional distinction and excellence both in the past year and throughout their careers in the defense of North America against ballistic missile threats.
The winners of the USNORTHCOM Defender of the Year Awards are:
Mr. Jeff Dillemuth – Chief of Future Operation Branch, US Northern Command
Lieutenant Commander Timothy David Ladowicz – Operations Branch Chief, Missile Defense Division, US Northern Command
The winner of the NORAD Missile Warning Professional of the Year Award is:
Lieutenant Colonel Rickey G. McCann – Space and Missile Officer, NORAD
The recipient of the Missile Defense Career Achievement Award is:
Colonel Frederick S. Clarke – Missile Defense Division Chief, US Northern Command
In addition to recognizing the achievements of these individuals, the event celebrated the historic relationship between the United States and Canada, and emphasized that North American security is a team effort.
“We are wed together forever.” Said MDAA Chairman Riki Ellison as he addressed the ceremony attendees in Colorado Springs. “The United States and Canada know each other better than anyone, and have learned to play off each other’s skill sets, strengths and weaknesses to make them a better team together than they could ever be separately.”
Ellison described the very real nature of the current missile threats to the North American continent, including the current North Korea’s upcoming potential long-range missile test, and the engine tests it recently conducted on its KN-08 ICBM. “It is important to show resolve that Canada and the United States stand ready and united to face these threats to protect our way of life.”
Missile warning continues to be NORAD’s primary mission since its inception 57 years ago. “If you can’t see it you can’t shoot it down no matter how good your systems are.” Explained Ellison. “It is the most critical element of our missile and air defense of North America…and it is rarely recognized.”
Eight servicemen were nominated for these awards representing personnel from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, and civilians.
Riki Ellison is available for interviews. To schedule, please contact Ian Williams at iwilliams@missiledefenseadvocacy.org or call 703-299-0060.
About Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
MDAA’s mission is to make the world safer by advocating for the development and deployment of missile defense systems to defend the United States, its armed forces and its allies against missile threats.We are a non-partisan membership-based and membership-funded organization that does not advocate on behalf of any specific system, technology, architecture or entity.
