Cramer, Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Bratton Visit GFAFB, Highlight Growing Role in Space Defense

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The rapidly expanding defense ecosystem in Grand Forks received another boost today, with a visit from Vice Chief of Space Operations General Shawn Bratton to the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Operations Center. The visit comes a day after a major announcement from U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for a planned $250 million Space Operations Center to be built at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Bratton toured the base with Cramer, discussing the new Space Operations Center's role in President Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget. The new operations center is one of several major projects Cramer has brought to the region and will become the backbone of the SDA's next-generation capabilities, strengthening global force protection and bolstering security at home.

"Grand Forks is a powerhouse for America's space mission," said Cramer, chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee and co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus."It's helpful for General Bratton to learn more about our capabilities here in Grand Forks, with President Trump planning major investments in the Space Force. The new Space Operations Facility anchors the SDA here in Grand Forks and gives us state-of-the-art infrastructure to match our world-class workforce to deploy the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. What's being built here is unmatched, and I'm honored to be here with Vice Chief of Space Operations General Bratton to highlight the expertise and innovation coming out of Grand Forks."

Gen. Bratton, who serves as the Space Force's second highest-ranking officer and oversees the service's strategy, requirements, and global operations, visited at a pivotal moment for the region. His stop in Grand Forks underscores the growing national importance of the base and surrounding partnerships as the Pentagon sharpens its focus on space superiority. Cramer previously met with Gen. Bratton to discuss Space Force training infrastructure requirements, including the need for a dedicated base to support approximately 3,000 students, as well as the modernization of Cavalier Space Force Station's Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System.

The visit is part of a broader mission by Cramer to elevate North Dakota's role in national security. He has hosted senior military leaders in the state, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Golden Dome Director Gen. Michael Guetlein, former Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jim Slife, Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, and former U.S. Space Command Commander and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond. In 2020, when Cramer hosted Gen. Raymond in Grand Forks, it was his first public visit after President Trump made him Chief of Space Operations.

Grand Forks is quickly becoming a cornerstone of America's space architecture. Through its partnership with the SDA the base now plays a key role operating the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. Cramer facilitated the partnership between the SDA and GFAFB, hosting officials and promoting the base's strategic position for satellite operations.

In October 2020, Cramer brought former SDA Director Dr. Derek Tournear to Grand Forks to view firsthand how GFAFB's UAS professionals operate systems around the world from North Dakota. The following year, after Cramer's steadfast advocacy for federal space assets and defense modernization, SDA designated GFAFB as operator of its future satellite mission using the base as a center to monitor and maneuver LEO satellites. In 2024, Cramer flipped the switch to bring the SDA Operations Center North at GFAFB online.

Cramer laid the groundwork for the U.S. Space Force, with key language in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act directing its creation. He was an early and vocal advocate, pressing for the service during Senate Armed Services Committee hearings in April 2019 and warning space was rapidly becoming a contested national security domain. After the Space Force was established, Cramer was named co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus and shaped its development through subsequent defense bills.