05.17.11

Conrad, Hoeven Announce Lt. Gen. James As UAS Summit Keynote Speaker

James Oversees the Air Force's Intelligence and Surveillance Capabilities

Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven announced today that Air Force Lieutenant General Larry D. James will deliver the keynote address at the 2011 Red River Valley Research Corridor Unmanned Aircraft Systems Action Summit.  Senators Conrad and Hoeven are cosponsors of the summit, which will be held June 2-3 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. 

Gen. James is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance with the United States Air Force. He oversees all of the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, including all unmanned aircraft systems activity. 

Senators Conrad and Hoeven noted that the mission that led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden highlights the importance of intelligence gathering to our national security.  UAS systems play a key role in the intelligence gathering effort, and the Red River Valley Research Corridor is home to cutting-edge innovation in the field of unmanned aircraft. 

"This summit is a conversation about the future of unmanned aircraft systems for the nation and the vital and expanding role North Dakota plays in this exciting field," Senators Conrad and Hoeven said. "Gen. James is the Air Force's top intelligence officer and an important part of that conversation. We are privileged to have him as our keynote speaker."  

Gen. James entered the Air Force after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978. His career has spanned a wide variety of operations and acquisition assignments, including as a space shuttle payload specialist and as the Senior Space Officer for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

The theme of this year's summit is "UAS 2020: Looking to the Future." It will examine the ongoing use and growth of unmanned, or remotely piloted, systems within the national airspace.  Presenters will including industry leaders, policy makers, entrepreneurs and researchers, who will discuss and explore actions the region, and nation, can take to foster strong, sustainable growth in the unmanned systems sector. 

For more information visit: http://theresearchcorridor.com/UASSummit2011.