Updated

Air Force Gen. Lori J. Robinson becomes the first woman to head a top-tier U.S. warfighting center when she takes charge of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD in Colorado.

Robinson assumes command in a ceremony Friday at Peterson Air Force Base.

People who know Robinson describe her as the personification of a new generation of leaders, someone who understands the Air Force has a broad role in space, cyber security and drones, not just flying and fighting.

Her family has deep roots in the Air Force. Her husband is a retired two-star general who was a pilot in the Thunderbirds demonstration team. Her father was a 30-year Air Force veteran and a pilot in the Vietnam War.

She is one of just two female four-star generals in the Air Force.