Red River Valley Research Corridor : Unmanned Aviation Systems Action Summit

UNMANNED AVIATION SYSTEMS
A New Era of Opportunity Takes Off in the
Red River Valley Research Corridor

March 22, 2006 - John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences,
University of North Dakota, Clifford Hall Room 210

An Action Summit

Organized by:

U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences,
University of North Dakota

The Research Corridor Coordinating Center

Now that the BRAC decisions have been made it is time for us to start planning for the future. Grand Forks Air Force Base and the Air National Guard in Fargo are due to become one of the Air Force’s premier operations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). So it is fitting for the region to explore the commercial and technological opportunities implicit in unmanned aviation systems (UAS).

When the Air Force announced its plan to put UAS operations in the region, it said it was doing so not just because of the advantages provided by the Grand Forks base itself, but also because it recognized that UND’s School of Aerospace Sciences offers unique opportunities to focus on UAS efforts for the Air Force and other Services. That’s why I’m working with the Air Force to establish UND as a DoD Center of Excellence for UAV Education.

The purpose of the summit is to start to identify specific actions that must be taken to accelerate the deployment of UAS to Grand Forks Air Force Base and the Air National Guard base in Fargo and to identify potential UAS-related economic opportunities for the community and local businesses.

At the Action Summit: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Receive a briefing from a member of the Department of Defense (DoD) UAS Roadmap Planning Task Force to outline DoD’s long-term plans for UAS.
- Learn about force structure plans for Grand Forks Air Force Base and UAS acquisition and basing plans.
- Hear about airspace issues from representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the uses of UAS for homeland defense from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Connect with leaders in business, research and government who are forging the way in UAS development.
- Discuss ideas and strategies for public policy and initiatives you’d like to see to help take UAS development in our nation and state to the next level.

View Action Summit Agenda