Charles H. Jacoby Jr.

Charles Hemming Jacoby Jr. (June 19, 1954 – April 1, 2025) was a top military leader, author, and strategist who served as the fifth Commander of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the 22nd Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). General Jacoby served as Vice Chairman and Board Member of Agilion Systems, an advanced technology and strategic advisory firm. Previously he was Vice Chairman and Board Member at Tilman & Company, a predecessor to Agilion

General Jacoby was a leading expert on modern warfare, strategic planning, and international security, as well as an accomplished writer and historian. He is a co-author of Agility: How to Navigate the Unknown and Seize Opportunity in a World of Disruption (Missionday, 2019), having also published studies on air campaigns, brigade combat teams, ballistic missile defense, and strategic deterrence. He is past Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy at West Point and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has served on the boards of the El Pomar Foundation, the Institute for Defense Analysis, Cornerstone Defense, and the US Army Infantry Museum.

Jacoby’s 37 years of service include commanding at every level in Joint and Army assignments, from Company to Geographic Combatant Command. He has led in combat operations in Grenada with the 82nd Airborne Division, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Multinational CORP Iraq during the Operation Iraqi Freedom (2009-2011). Previously, he served as Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy for the Joint Staff, contributed to the Middle East peace process, and represented the U.S. military at the United Nations. As a U.S. Northern Command Commander, he led the military response to Hurricane Sandy. As the first Army officer to lead NORAD, he reorganized its 1,800-person bi-national and joint headquarters and integrated 35 federal, state, and non-governmental organizations for the defense and security of North America. He assumed command of USNORTHCOM and NORAD on 3 August 2011. Jacoby is notable as the first non-command pilot to serve as commander of either NORAD/USNORTHCOM, as both commands have traditionally been dominated by Air Force officers and NORAD carries a heavy air interdiction mission.