Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
The commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command is a four-star general or admiral in the United States Armed Forces who serves as the head of all United States and Canadian joint aerospace military operational forces, stationed within the Northern American territories. The commander of NORAD concurrently serves as the commander of United States Northern Command and is the head of all U.S. military forces within the command's geographical area of responsibility. The commander of NORAD is nominated for appointment by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate. Prior to 2001, the title for the commander of NORAD was called the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Deputy commanders
In recent years deputy commanders have always been Canadian air force lieutenant generals. Prior to the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, the deputy commanders were RCAF Air Marshals.| Number | Name | Photo | Start of term | End | Notable positions held before or after |
| 1 | Air Marshal Roy Slemon, CB, CBE, CD | 12 September 1957 | 14 August 1964 | Chief of the Air Staff | |
| 2 | Air Marshal Clarence Rupert Dunlap, CBE, CD | 15 August 1964 | 25 August 1967 | Chief of the Air Staff | |
| 3 | Air Marshal William R. MacBrien OBE, CD | 26 August 1967 | 22 January 1969 | ||
| 4 | Lieutenant-General Frederick Ralph Sharp CMM, DFC, CD | 23 January 1969 | 14 September 1969 | Chief of the Defence Staff | |
| 5 | Lieutenant-General Edwin Reyno | September 1969 | August 1972 | ||
| 6 | Lieutenant-General Reginald J. Lane, DSO, DFC, CD | September 1972 | October 1974 | ||
| 7 | Lieutenant-General Richard C. Stovel, AFC, CD | October 1974 | September 1976 | ||
| 8 | Lieutenant-General David R. Adamson | September 1976 | August 1978 | ||
| 9 | Lieutenant-General Kenneth E. Lewis | 18 August 1978 | 24 June 1980 | Commander of Air Command | |
| 10 | Lieutenant-General Kenneth J. Thorneycroft | June 1980 | May 1983 | ||
| 11 | Lieutenant-General Donald C. MacKenzie | May 1983 | August 1986 | ||
| 12 | Lieutenant-General Donald M. McNaughton | August 1986 | August 1989 | ||
| 13 | Lieutenant-General Robert W. Morton, CMM, CD | August 1989 | August 1992 | ||
| 14 | Lieutenant-General Brian L. Smith | August 1992 | August 1994 | ||
| 15 | Lieutenant-General J. D. O'Blenis | August 1994 | August 1995 | ||
| 16 | Lieutenant-General L. W. F. Cuppens | August 1995 | April 1998 | ||
| 17 | Lieutenant-General G C Macdonald, CMM, MVO, CD | April 1998 | August 2001 | Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Canadian Forces | |
| 18 | Lieutenant-General Ken R. Pennie, CMM, CD | 8 August 2001 | 14 July 2003 | Chief of the Air Staff | |
| 19 | Lieutenant-General Rick Findley, CMM, MSC, CD | 14 July 2003 | 2 August 2007 | ||
| 20 | Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, OC, CMM, MSC, CD | 2 August 2007 | 10 July 2009 | ||
| 21 | Lieutenant-General Marcel Duval, CMM, CD | 10 July 2009 | 15 August 2011 | ||
| 21 | Lieutenant-General Thomas J. Lawson, CMM, CD | 15 August 2011 | 4 September 2012 | Chief of the Defence Staff | |
| 22 | Lieutenant-General Alain Parent, CMM, CD | 4 September 2012 | 1 July 2015 | ||
| 23 | Lieutenant-General Pierre St-Amand, CMM, CD | 1 July 2015 | 20 July 2018 | ||
| 24 | Lieutenant General Christopher J. Coates, CMM, MSM, CD | 20 July 2018 | present |