Director of Strategic Plans and Policy for the Joint Staff Lt. Gen. George W. Casey (right), U.S. Army, and Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Stephen A. Cambone (left) provide reporters with details of the proposed changes to the Unified Command Plan during a Pentagon press briefing on April 17, 2002. The plan creates the U.S. Northern Command which will assume the mission of defending the United States and supporting the full range of military assistance to civil authorities. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers, U.S. Air Force recommended the changes in a report to President George W. Bush. The Unified Command Plan is the document that establishes the missions and responsibilities, as well as the geographic boundaries, of each combatant command.