WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today stressed that Grand Forks Air Force Base is uniquely suited for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) missions and Arctic missions that will bolster national security, as the Air Force official who oversees the base’s Global Hawk mission visits Grand Forks on Monday.

Last week, Heitkamp spoke with the 4-star commander of Air Combat Command, General Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, to encourage him to focus his visit on the success of the Grand Sky business and aviation park and its potential to contribute to Air Force training of RPA pilots and crewmembers, as well as Grand Forks’ potential for future missions.

“Before General Carlisle saw the success we’ve had in Grand Forks today for himself, I spoke with him last week about the critical role this base plays – and should continue to play – in missions to protect our national security,” said Heitkamp. “North Dakota leads the way in developing and supporting remotely piloted aircraft, and the Global Hawk mission General Carlisle oversees has helped launch this exciting technology in our state. Now General Carlisle is seeing for himself how we’re bringing the military and the Grand Forks community together to build the base of the future. Our work has demonstrated the potential of public-private partnerships like Grand Sky, which offers great potential for the Air Force to achieve greater capacity for its remote pilot training needs at lower costs, and I hope this visit will show that Grand Forks is an ideal candidate for future Air Combat Command missions as the military expands its Arctic presence.”

Under General Carlisle’s command, the 69th Reconnaissance Group operates two variants of the Global Hawk out of Grand Forks, flying combat support missions as well as training and sensor operating missions. The High Frequency Global Communications System at the base conducts 24/7 operations in service of the president, cabinet members, U.S. Department of Defense, as well as aircraft and ships.

In addition to supporting the Global Hawk mission, Heitkamp has long been an advocate for public-private partnerships like the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) that paved the way for Grand Sky opening as the first UAS business park of its kind in the nation. In December 2015, Heitkamp met with Air Force Assistant Secretary Miranda Ballentine about the importance of Grand Sky for both the Air Force and North Dakota. In January, Heitkamp reinforced those points in a meeting with then-Air Force Under Secretary nominee Lisa Disbrow, who was subsequently confirmed as the second highest-ranking civilian official in the Air Force. 

Heitkamp successfully amended the defense authorization bill Congress passed last year to improve the military’s Arctic strategy and make Grand Forks attractive for future Arctic missions. The bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a report on protecting national security in the Arctic region. Heitkamp’s amendment strengthens this report and positions Grand Forks Air Force Base to play a significant role in future Arctic missions. Her amendment makes sure DOD’s Arctic strategy focuses on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as inter-service, interagency, and international partnerships – all of which would leverage facilities like those at Grand Forks Air Force Base. 

In 2014, Heitkamp personally called on the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to approve of additional authority for North Dakota to provide airspace and flexibility for the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site. Two months later the FAA heeded Heitkamp’s request, helping North Dakota draw more private partnerships. A cofounder of the Senate Defense Communities Caucus, Heitkamp continues to work to encourage safe commercial use of UAS, introducing bipartisan legislation in February to remove red tape for UAS research, open the door to more private investment, and save taxpayer money.

Heitkamp has consistently worked to clear the way for UAS technology development, investment, and partnerships in North Dakota by:

• Successfully removing barriers to UAS technology development and investments. Heitkamp successfully pressed FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on his agency’s efforts to improve the integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace, urging his agency in 2014 to avoid delays that could hinder the growth of the industry. Just three months later, the FAA heeded her call – announcing the UAS rule proposals she had asked for.

• Advancing in-state UAS technology development through FAA partnerships. After announcing in December 2013 the FAA’s selection of Grand Forks as a one of six official UAS Test Sites, Heitkamp brought FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to North Dakota in April 2014 to see firsthand the state’s unmanned aerial potential, and he announced the Northern Plains Test Site was the first UAS test site to be officially up-and-running.

• Delivering results to strengthen public-private partnerships on UAS test sites. In November 2014, Heitkamp discussed efforts to finalize the Grand Sky project during a meeting with Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) representatives. Heitkamp also pushed Air Force and Northrop Grumman leaders on the positive impact that a fully-functioning Grand Sky business park would have for the Air Force and the private sector. In a July 2014 meeting, Heitkamp and then-Commander Colonel Paul Bauman discussed the best strategies for completing the EUL approval process and creating a plan for its successful management. In October, Heitkamp met with current Commander Colonel Rodney Lewis and discussed ways to support development at Grand Sky. That same month, Heitkamp highlighted the need to keep encouraging public-private partnerships at Northrop Grumman’s groundbreaking at Grand Sky.