Last week U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) urged top federal officials to protect the northern border by taking advantage of the North Dakota unmanned aerial systems (UAS) expertise he has championed in the Senate, securing a commitment from them to visit the state and see its UAS industry at work.
In a meeting with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretaries Michael Dougherty and Nate Jensen and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, Hoeven showcased the North Dakota UAS industry’s work to improve national security. The industry’s development of UAS to protect against potential threats against the United States from UAS misuse, while at the same time protecting citizens’ right to privacy, was also discussed at the meeting, according to Hoeven’s office.
The DHS officials committed to visiting North Dakota for a firsthand look at UAS, the statement from Hoeven’s office added.
“North Dakota is leading the way in developing and testing UAS technologies,” said Hoeven. “With its central location and the technology and partnerships we’ve worked to develop, it only makes sense that Grand Forks should serve as a hub for northern border security.”
“During today’s meetings, we highlighted the valuable role these systems can play in securing the northern border, including detecting illegal border crossings and the transportation of illicit substances,” added Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Hoeven and McAleenan also discussed the University of North Dakota Pathways Program, which offers up to 16 students every year the opportunity to start a career path as a CBP trainee. On Jan. 8, 15 UND students in the program were sworn in as CBP air interdiction agents.
In November, Hoeven received a commitment from DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to use UAS in strengthening national security. Hoeven also invited Nielsen to visit North Dakota and take a look for herself at the Grand Sky Technology Park, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the CBP UAS facility, and the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Hoeven has consistently supported North Dakota’s UAS industry throughout his time in the Senate. In 2016, Hoeven worked to gain Federal Aviation Administration certificate of authorization for the Northern Plains UAS Test Site to oversee unmanned aircraft operations that go beyond the line of sight of the operator, making the site the first in the country with such capability.
Also in 2016, the senator announced a $3 million investment by the Department of Defense at Grand Forks Air Force Base and Fargo’s Hector Field for upgrades to their digital airport surveillance radar systems.
Additionally, in his work on the Appropriations Committee, Hoeven secured $8 million in fiscal year 2017 funding to ensure that CBP would keep its UAS training and operations facility in Grand Forks.