Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander, North American Aerospace

Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, left, visits the combat information center aboard the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) on Feb. 6, 2021. This visit aboard a guided-missile destroyer (DDG) highlights one of many maritime strategic assets that provide unparalleled sea-based ballistic missile defense capability to the homeland defense mission. No other national asset provides the guided-missile destroyer’s speed of maneuver or dynamic response capability. U.S. Navy guided-missile cruisers and destroyers are uniquely positioned to intercept missiles in the midcourse phase when those ballistic missiles are launched against critical defended targets. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaleb J. Sarten)