12.19.17

Hoeven: UND Students Selected to Train as Federal Airborne Law Enforcement Officers

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after 15 students at the University of North Dakota (UND) were selected to train as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air Interdiction Agents under the university’s Pathways Program. Earlier this year, Hoeven announced the CBP program, which provides federal career opportunities for students learning to fly both manned and unmanned aircraft.

“This really is a win-win – not only do UND aerospace students get a job and get paid while they’re going to school, but CBP gets these great young people to help them carry out their very important mission,” Hoeven said. “The pathways program represents a tremendous opportunity for UND’s students and ensures CBP has access to the pilots it needs to ensure the security of our border. Congratulations to all of the successful applicants.”

The students, who are hired as federal employees with flexible full or part-time schedules, will assist in developing operational plans for interdiction missions, work with state and local law enforcement officials and perform security liaison duties. Upon graduation and while accruing flight hours, the trainees will become Aviation Enforcement Agents with duties that include collecting and processing evidence and interviewing suspects and witnesses. Upon completion of flight hours, the trainees will become CBP Air Interdiction Agents conducting aerial border security missions.  

Today’s announcement dovetails with Hoeven’s work as a members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure $8 million in Fiscal Year 2017 funding to ensure that CBP’s UAS operations and training facility would remain in Grand Forks. The CBP leased a recently renovated space on the air base in September.

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