The Air Force Academy has indefinitely closed the campus to visitors, except those who have a Defense Department escort.
on Friday announced it has suspended daily access to its North Gate during visitors hours to increase its security measures.
In a news release posted online Friday, the academy said the increased security is "in accordance with a NORTHCOM directive."
Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of the Colorado-based U.S. Northern Command, ordered domestic military bases nationwide to increase their force protection measures amid heightened concern about terrorist threats.
The directive, issued Thursday night, raised military installations' force protection level to "Bravo" after months of maintaining it at "Alpha," the lowest level of security, a defense official said Friday.
Tech. Sgt. Jeff Fitzmorris, spokesman for North American Aerospace Defense Command and NORTHCOM. said that the directive was not tied to any specific threat.
When asked if the changes were made in response to the threat posed by the Islamic State terrorist group, Fitzmorris said, "We share the same concern about the potential threat posed by homegrown violent extremists as discussed publicly by [FBI] Director [James] Comey and others."
"While the [force protection] change is not tied to a specific, credible threat, recent events have led us to recognize the need to take prudent steps to ensure our [force protection] measures can be increased quickly and unpredictably at the macro level, just as they routinely vary at the micro level," Fitzmorris said. When asked if the recent events referred to the Islamic State-inspired shooting at a "Draw Muhammad" event in Garland, Texas, Fitzmorris said there is no specific threat tied to that event.
Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said after a luncheon Friday at the National Press Club on Friday that she didn't have details on what led to the increased security. But she said the academy is aware of the risk of homegrown terrorist threats, especially since the online al Qaida magazine Inspire last year encouraged attacks against the academy.
"We try hard to balance between being open, but being secure," Johnson said. "We're going to have thousands of people at the stadium here in the next couple weeks [during the academy's graduation ceremony]. We're going to be as open as we can, but we're going to have a different [security] stance."
The academy news release said "these measures are in place to ensure the safety and security of USAFA personnel, cadets and assets."
Defense Department ID cardholders — even if they don't work at the academy — will still be able to access the academy through both the North and South gates, the academy said in a follow-up release. Visitors also may be escorted onto the academy by Defense ID cardholders.
But visitors without such a card — such as tourists who want to visit areas that are typically open to the public, such as the Cadet Chapel — in most cases will not be allowed onto the academy, academy spokesman Meade Warthen said in an email.
Non-Defense ID cardholders may be allowed on the academy for official events, but those requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The release said access to the academy for official events will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Visitors hours typically run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The release did not say why U.S. Northern Command NORTHCOM issued the directive, but said "these measures are in place to ensure the safety and security of USAFA personnel, cadets and assets."
The restricted access will only be for The academy said there may be traffic backups near the academy's North and South gates, and that Defense Department ID cardholders should expect delays when entering.
NORAD NORTHCOM spokesman Technical Sgt. Jeff Fitzmorris said that the directive, which was issued Thursday night, was not tied to any specific threat, said Technical Sgt. Jeff Fitzmorris, spokesman for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.
When asked if the changes were made in response to the threat posed by the Islamic State terrorist group, Fitzmorris said "We share the same concern about the potential threat posed by homegrown violent extremists as discussed publicly by [FBI] Director [James] Comey and others."
"While the [force protection] change is not tied to a specific, credible threat, recent events have led us to recognize the need to take prudent steps to ensure our [force protection] measures can be increased quickly and unpredictably at the macro level, just as they routinely vary at the micro level," Fitzmorris said. When asked if the recent events referred to the Islamic State-inspired shooting at a "Draw Muhammad" event in Garland, Texas, Fitzmorris said there is no specific threat tied to that event.
NORTHCOM Commander Adm. Bill Gortney raised military installations' force protection level to "Bravo" after months of maintaining it at "Alpha," the lowest level of security, a defense official said Friday.
Comey also warned Thursday about the threat of IS and it's influence inside the U.S.
"I know there are other Elton Simpsons [one of the Garland gunmen] out there," Comey told reporters. "We have a very hard task" in trying to stop individuals who might be influenced by IS and its propaganda via social media.
Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said after a luncheon Friday at the National Press Club on Friday that she didn't have details on what led to the increased security. But she said the academy is aware of the risk of homegrown terrorist threats, especially since the online al Qaida magazine Inspire last year encouraged attacks against the academy.
"We try hard to balance between being open, but being secure," Johnson said. "We're going to have thousands of people at the stadium here in the next couple weeks [during the academy's graduation ceremony]. We're going to be as open as we can, but we're going to have a different [security] stance."
Andrew Tilghman contributed to this report.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
