Cramer Flips the Switch, Commencing Operations of SDA’s Center at Grand Forks Air Force Base

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) flipped the switch on Wednesday to bring the Space Development Agency (SDA) Operations and Networking Center at the Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) online. The center will support the agency's Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) tracking and transport satellite missions. The first tranche of satellites is expected to launch late this year or early 2025.

"I am honored to flip the switch making this Space Development Agency Operations Center North fully functional," said Cramer. "This is a critical step in providing warfighters capability controlled from the Grand Forks Air Force Base."

SDA Director Dr. Derek Tournear joined Cramer on a tour of the facility. In October 2020, Cramer first brought Dr. Tournear to Grand Forks to view firsthand its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and how they operated around the world from North Dakota. The following year, SDA approved GFAFB to operate its future satellite mission using the base as a center to monitor and maneuver LEO satellites. Cramer advocated for GFAFB to receive this mission and has been working to connect federal space assets like SDA to North Dakota.

"As soon as I met [Derek Tournear], I could tell this is someone who thinks outside the bureaucracy, someone who might see space value in a place that's not Florida or California," said Cramer. "My instincts were correct and proven right. I showed him some of our innovative ecosystem here in Grand Forks, including Grand Sky, University of North Dakota, and Global Hawk operations at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. After a great briefing by the airmen of the 319th who were operating Global Hawks around the world right there in Grand Forks, Derek looked at me and said this is exactly how he envisioned operating his satellite constellations around the outside of the globe."

Cramer presented a flag flown over the United States Capitol to be hung in the SDA center.

During today's tour of the Operations Center, Cramer saw firsthand how Grand Forks will have an international connection through ground stations in ally nations like Norway, Japan, and Australia. Earlier this summer, Cramer engaged with the Norwegian Ambassador and the Japanese Consul-General about this cooperation and future opportunities when the dignitaries visited North Dakota. He has also had these same discussions with Australian diplomatic and defense leaders.

"While at the Operations Centertoday, I was able to see exactly how Grand Forks would have an international connection through its international ground stations," said Cramer. "Between SDA's global footprint and General Atomics' international training, there is a growing connection between our capabilities and the global demand for the expertise that resides right here in Grand Forks."

Before the visit concluded, Cramer and Dr. Tournear discussed SDA progress on its Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure (AFCGI) request for proposal. This infrastructure, as described by SDA, is central to the successful execution of the Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter prototype system. Cramer has promoted GFAFB to U.S. Department of Defense leadership as the perfect location for future AFCGI.

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