Air Force Col. Don Shaffer, UND President Robert Kelley
The University of North Dakota and representatives from the Grand Forks Air Force Base signed a historic lease agreement on Saturday, Feb. 12, providing the University’s UAS programme a new home on base for research, training and education. A signing ceremony took place inside the base facility, part of which — about 5,000 square feet — will house UND’s Center for UAS Research, Education & Training.
On hand for event were UND President Robert Kelley, Bruce Smith, dean of UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, Al Palmer, director of the UND UAS center, Air Force Col. Don Shaffer, 319th Air Refueling Wing commander, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., among others.
The lease agreement is the latest achievement for UND’s UAS programme, placing its headquarters in the heart of the action of the burgeoning UAS industry. State and Congressional leaders who took part in today’s event hailed the growing partnership between the Air Force and UND as a way of the future for both organizations.
The Air Force is investing heavily in unmanned aircraft and related technologies. By turn, Grand Forks Air Force Base is in the process of transitioning into a major military hub for some of those aircraft: the Predator and Global Hawk classes.
At the same time, UND’s UAS programme already is a designated North Dakota Center of Excellence, drawing expertise from researchers across campus, from aerospace to engineering to allied health fields to the Center for Innovation. The University also was the first in the nation to offer a four-year degree in UAS piloting.
Read the full story on the University of North Dakota’s blog