12.11.13

Hoeven Meets with Top Northrop Grumman Executive, CEO Wes Bush

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today met with Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush to express his appreciation for the company’s commitment to be the anchor tenant in Grand Sky, the Grand Forks region’s state-of-the-art aerospace business and technology park on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The new high-tech complex will provide cutting-edge facilities for unmanned aerial systems development.

The U.S. Air Force has announced his intention to sign an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) with Grand Forks County to build the complex on approximately 217 acres at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Under the terms of the agreement, the county will provide payments to the Air Force in exchange for a 50-year lease. The Air Force and county team members are working through final documents. The senator helped to forge the new alliance over the past year.

Hoeven has been working with Thomas Vice, Northrop Grumman’s Corporate VP and President of its Aerospace Systems Sector, to secure the EUL for Grand Start. Last year, the senator brought Vice and other Northrop Grumman senior executives to Grand Forks to explore the possibility of a partnership between the company, the Air Force and Grand Forks County. He pushed for the EUL with top Air Force officials, and has been working since secure and finalize the agreement.

“As the anchor tenant in Grand Sky, aerospace giant Northrop Grumman is making a big commitment to Grand Forks and North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “The EUL, combined with getting Grand Forks designated as one of the six national test sites for integrating UAS into the National Airspace, will bolster our efforts to make the Grand Forks region the premier northern hub for UAS in the nation.”

Senator Hoeven is a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.