Following a fireside chat at the 18th annual Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit and Expo, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, engaged with students at the University of North Dakota (UND). The townhall focused on how companies like Anduril are “rebooting the arsenal of democracy.”
Senator Cramer expressed his support for smart investment in defense innovation. “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I appreciate smart investment,” he stated. He emphasized the need for innovators who can match China’s speed while being cost-effective and scalable.
Palmer Luckey highlighted the impact of Unmanned Aerial Systems on modern conflict. “Transforming the way we fight requires an approach to capability development and adoption that is more closely aligned with the commercial market than the traditional defense industrial base,” he said.
Cramer and Luckey also met with UND President Dr. Andrew Armacost to discuss how UND can encourage student innovation and prepare graduates for companies like Anduril. They discussed supporting creativity by changing traditional educational designs.
Earlier at the UAS Summit, Cramer and Luckey spoke about how policymakers can leverage private sector potential and startups like Anduril to enhance national security. Cramer has been active in attracting new defense missions to Grand Forks, including B-1 Bombers’ temporary relocation to Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) and advocating for future Collaborative Combat Aircraft missions.
