Who is typically assigned as the Air Defense Commander?

• A. CG CO - Cruiser Commanding Officer
• B. Wing Commander
• C. Air Defense Commander of the Army
• D. Commander, NORAD

Answer: (A)

Air defense coordination for a naval task force is centralized on the ship best equipped to contest aerial threats. In typical fleet structure, that duty falls to the Cruiser Commanding Officer, because cruisers carry the most capable air defense systems and provide the primary air defense coordination for the group. As Air Defense Commander, this officer directs the overall air picture, assigns defensive resources, and maintains liaison with fighter direction and other ships to ensure cohesive protection against air threats. Other roles don’t fit the naval task-force context: a Wing Commander is an air force leadership position, the Army has its own land-based air defense command, and NORAD operates at a continental, joint level rather than ship-level task-force defense.