Hoeven, Cramer Pledge Ongoing Support for FAA Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven and Congressman Kevin Cramer, along with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, today pledged to continue their support for a newly-designated FAA Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems that will research and develop technologies and policies for the use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, in the United States.

At a news conference Thursday, lawmakers praised the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selection of Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), a consortium of 20 universities led by the University of North Dakota (UND) and Mississippi State University, to lead the UAS COE. ASSURE is tasked with identifying issues critical to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the nation's airspace and engaging in research and policy development on the growing use of unmanned aerial systems.

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, MSU President Mark Keenum, UND Associate Dean of Academics-Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Paul Lindseth and other consortium members joined U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and U.S. Representatives Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) at the event to discuss the next steps and goals for the COE UAS.

"We are extremely pleased that UND is a key member of the UAS team selected for the Center of Excellence," Hoeven said. "UND brings not only its resources as a premier school of aviation, but also a strong connection with the northern tier UAS test site and the Grand Sky Technology Park."

"This alliance is its own evidence of excellence. In addition to the scientific and intellectual assets of these institutions, North Dakota brings the highest ethical standards born out of the culture of the prairies to be applied to the execution of technology," Congressman Cramer said.

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