Top military experts, defense contractors and local officials all will land in Grand Forks this week to discuss the future of aviation at Sen. Byron Dorgan's two-day Unmanned Aircraft Systems Summit.
The event, which begins today at the Alerus Center, will feature input from the nation's top military experts on unmanned aerial technology, displays of unmanned aerial vehicles and roundtable discussions related to how the region can take advantage of that technology from an economic standpoint.
"We're going to have a really interesting agenda," Dorgan said. "We've got the presentation by the Department of Defense talking about the issues that relate to unmanned aircraft systems. We're going to have Homeland Security there talking about their use of UAVs."
Dyke Weatherington, deputy of the Pentagon's Unmanned Aerial Systems Task Force, will speak at 9:45 a.m. today.
Brig. Gen. Paul Dettmer, U.S. Air Force assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, will give the keynote presentation at noon.
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According to Delore Zimmerman, who is president of CEO Praxis Inc. and works with the Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center, today's schedule features speeches from prominent Department of Defense officials.
Tuesday's lineup highlights representatives from defense contracting firms, such as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missile Systems, and UND officials with experience in unmanned aerial industry.
While the bulk of UAV investment has gone into defense, Dorgan said the summit also will focus on commercial unmanned aerial opportunities. "Because there are so many other related activities with unmanned aircraft systems, business will play a role, the private sector will play a role," he added.
Dorgan said local defense-related unmanned aerial activity, including a new mission coming to the Grand Forks Air Force Base, provides opportunities to grow the region's economy, especially in sectors such as agriculture and high-tech research.
Those who attend the summit will also have the opportunity to see models of UAVs. Northrop Grumman will display a one-fifth-size model of its Global Hawk UAV - a type of aircraft that will be part of the air base's new UAV mission. An actual KillerBee UAV, which is being developed by Northrop Grumman and Swift Engineering, will be on display as well.
The public is invited to attend the summit. Registration is $50 for food, beverages and materials. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. this morning for registration and a continental breakfast. A full schedule of events is available online at www.theresearchcorridor.com .
Edison reports on business. Reach him at (701) 780-1107; (800) 477-6572, ext. 107; or jedison@gfherald.com .
