President Obama's decision to assign U.S. Northern Command the lead role for the Arctic in the 2011 edition of the Unified Command Plan will simplify command and control in the region, a senior defense official said today. The plan, signed by Obama on April 6, lays out the missions, responsibilities and geographic areas of responsibility of the combatant commands. The plan makes NORTHCOM the advocate for Arctic capabilities and puts the Bering Strait and the North Pole in the command's...
