09.21.23

Hoeven Votes to Confirm General Charles Brown as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after voting to confirm Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to Brown’s confirmation, Hoeven worked with the general in his role as Air Force Chief of Staff to strengthen North Dakota’s missions, including:

  • Advancing the modernization of the dual nuclear missions in Minot.
    • Hoeven is working to keep the nuclear modernization programs on track, having secured full funding for the efforts in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations legislation.
  • Ensuring future investment in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission in Grand Forks.
    • Hoeven also secured an agreement with Gen. Brown to transfer the Global Hawk Block 30 aircraft to Grand Sky for the Sky Range hypersonic missile testing program.
  • Upgrading the MQ-9 Reaper flown by the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo.

“We’ve worked closely with General Brown to expand and strengthen North Dakota’s missions. Whether it’s through modernizing our nuclear deterrent in Minot, enhancing our ISR capabilities in Grand Forks, advancing hypersonic missile technology or upgrading the MQ-9 for our Air Guard in Fargo, we will continue our efforts to provide the support and upgraded technology needed to ensure our servicemembers can continue to effectively counter our adversaries around the world,” said Hoeven.

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