From 1957 to 1963, the base was the site of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which subsequently moved to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.

[1] The site later became the location of the United States Olympic Training Center, which was completed in July 1978.

[10] Subordinate Air Force commands were given responsibility to protect the various regions of the United States.

[5]: 4 The Colorado Springs Tent Camp was the headquarters for the Second Air Force beginning early June 1943.

It was moved from Fort George Wright in the state of Washington to the more central location within the western half of the United States—the Second Air Force territory.

[2] The tent city was used for soldiers who worked on the conversion of the National Methodist Sanatorium[a] for military use and construction of additional buildings for the base.

[1] Major General Robert B. Williams became the commanding officer of the Second Air Force in October 1944; he retired 1 July 1946.

There were discussions about the city taking over the now unused property,[13] but in November 1950, it was announced that the base was to become the headquarters for the Air Defense Command.

[21] The Air Defense Command began 24-hour Ground Observer Corps operations on 14 July 1952.

[5]: 15 [15]: 261 [c] 1 September of that year, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) was activated as a joint command at Ent AFB:[5]: 15 The Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce purchased 8.1 acres of land and donated it to the Ent Air Force Base, making it a permanent installation on 31 July 1954.

[17] On 15 January 1956, General Earle E. Partridge, CINCONAD, directed his staff to begin preliminary planning for a Combat Operations Center to be located underground.

Partridge was relieved of his command of CONAD and Lt. General Joseph H. Atkinson assumed control of ADC.

[26] The North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) was established and activated at the base on 12 September 1957.

[27] In 1958, the base put $36,904,558 into the Colorado Springs economy in the form of pay to 3,639 military and 1,222 civilian personnel and dependents allowances, which was more than $7 million more than the previous year.

The official ground breaking ceremony was held 16 June 1961 at the construction site of the new NORAD Combat Operations Center.

Generals Lee (ADC) and Laurence S. Kuter (NORAD) simultaneously set off symbolic dynamite charges.

[5]: 18 [d] The 9th Aerospace Defense Division was activated at Ent Air Force Base on 15 July 1961.

It was moved from Ent AFB to the newly completed Cheyenne Mountain Combat Operations Center and was activated on 3 September 1965.

[5]: 20 A Major General was assigned as the first Director of the Combat Operations Center as recommended by the Cheyenne Mountain Complex Task Force Study Report on 1 October 1965.

In December 1976, personnel were moved to Peterson Air Force Base and the Chidlaw Building, near downtown Colorado Springs.