U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer joined military leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators on March 13 at the fourth annual National Security Innovation Base (NSIB) Summit to discuss the future of U.S. military modernization. The event, hosted by the Reagan Institute, focused on evaluating and accelerating technological innovation in national defense.
The summit is significant as it brings together public and private sector stakeholders to assess how well the national security innovation base supports U.S. defense goals and to recommend improvements for coordination between government, military, and industry partners.
Cramer participated in a plenary session unveiling this year’s NSIB Report Card alongside Doug Philippone of Snowpoint Ventures, Christian Rodriguez of McKinsey & Company, and Admiral Chris Grady, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The panel discussed the pace of defense innovation and structural reforms needed for faster adoption of new technologies. Cramer said there is an “attitudinal shift” happening across party lines regarding defense modernization: “One of the things that’s encouraging about the report and by this discussion, is that there really is an attitudinal shift that’s happening,” he said. “Even crystalizing across party lines and in between appropriators and the authorizers that this is for real. Tragically, the Russia and Ukraine situation has given us a real view that what happens in the fog of war is the clarity of demand. We’re seeing this play out.”
Minot Air Force Base hosts two legs of the nuclear triad while Grand Forks Air Force Base leads satellite and counter-drone operations. Cramer said he is working to modernize these assets both in North Dakota and nationwide through efforts like co-chairing the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus with Senator Mark Kelly. He emphasized rapid modernization to counter near-peer adversaries by investing in next-generation capabilities.
While acknowledging a “D” grade for defense modernization on this year’s report card, Cramer pointed to progress such as advancements with F-47 aircraft production and B-21 bombers: “There are some encouraging trends there that I think are earned, but I think it’s also an illustration of that attitudinal shift,” he said. He added optimism about North Dakota being among the last states to transition from Minuteman III missiles to LGM-35A Sentinel systems at Minot Air Force Base—allowing lessons learned elsewhere to benefit local implementation.
The conversation also addressed challenges faced by new agencies like the Space Development Agency (SDA), which encountered resistance within federal bureaucracy but aims to foster competition among companies producing satellite tranches based on cost efficiency and innovation. Cramer said bringing new companies into projects creates incentives for long-term innovation: “you have an incentive, a long-term demand signal, you have an incentive to innovate.” He concluded: “We need to do a lot more, we need to encourage it, but I think a lot of it comes down from my side of the customer,” adding concerns about risk aversion leading to stagnation.
According to the official website, Cramer represents North Dakota in the U.S. Senate under the federal government and emphasizes national defense as part of his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee. His office maintains multiple locations across North Dakota as well as Washington D.C., facilitates constituent engagement through services and public information initiatives, offers assistance with federal agencies, citizen outreach programs, and provides information about his educational background including degrees from Concordia College and University of Mary.
