Central ND News

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), will visit Grand Forks Air Force Base on Monday. The visit aims to discuss base quality of life, current and future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, the growth of the Space Development Agency (SDA), and other potential missions. The following day, they will visit the 119th Wing in Fargo.

“I look forward to showcasing the innovative aviation ecosystems we have in Grand Forks and Fargo,” said Cramer. “General Wilsbach will see the way our Airmen built and utilize this ecosystem, and how future military missions will thrive here. Grand Forks Air Force Base significantly contributes to the common defense of the nation while remaining mission-focused. Gen. Wilsbach will see firsthand how our expertise in operating Global Hawks has led to our selection for operating SDA satellites, and how that combined expertise will make it a seamless transition to operating cutting-edge ISR capabilities and prepare for other emerging technologies such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft. No ISR visit to North Dakota would be complete without a stop with Fargo’s Happy Hooligans to see the critical work they do. I appreciate Gen. Wilsbach visiting to see our state’s robust and growing defense ecosystem firsthand.”

Besides mission briefings, Cramer and Gen. Wilsbach will inspect base infrastructure, dormitories, and the site of a future school. They will also tour the University of North Dakota and participate in a tour of Grand Sky Business and Aviation Park.

Gen. Wilsbach assumed leadership of ACC in February and is responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready air, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum forces for rapid deployment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready for peacetime air sovereignty challenges.

ACC operates more than 1,000 aircraft across 35 wings at 12 bases with over 1,336 units at more than 263 locations worldwide involving 154,219 total force military and civilian personnel.

Cramer met with Gen. Wilsbach at the end of January to discuss runway conditions at Grand Forks AFB and future ISR missions from Grand Forks.