Cramer, Air Force Under Secretary Lohmeier Visit GFAFB and Point Defense Battle Lab

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. - As small drones reshape modern warfare and espionage, Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) is attracting national acclaim for its work developing and testing technologies to counter these threats and strengthen national defense. Air Force Under Secretary Matthew Lohmeier became the latest Pentagon official to tour the base when he accompanied U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) on a visit to the Air Combat Command's Point Defense Battle Lab (PDBL) today.

"Small drones are changing the battlefield, but Grand Forks Air Force Base is helping our military stay ahead of our adversaries' threats," said Cramer. "Having Under Secretary Lohmeier here underscores the importance of this mission and gives Department of War leadership a look at the capabilities North Dakota is bringing to the fight. The Point Defense Battle Lab brings together the people, technology and real-world testing needed to strengthen installation security and protect our warfighters. North Dakota has an extensive history of supporting our nation's defense, and this mission builds on our legacy while positioning our state at the forefront of counter-drone innovation."

As the second highest-ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force, Lohmeier provides senior leadership, oversight, and policy support for service-wide initiatives, including base defense and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) efforts.

The PDBL held its ribbon-cutting ceremony in April and has quickly become a premier hub for testing, tactics development, and real-world experimentation. Cramer, who advocated for the site's selection from his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), recognized Grand Forks' counter-small UAS ecosystems made it the logical home for the advanced exercises required to develop and test capabilities to protect military installations from small-drone threats.

Today's visit comes as North Dakota expands its role in counter-drone technology development. "We sense the obligation we have to the security of this nation," Cramer said at a recent defense forum highlighting North Dakota's role in national security. The U.S. Department of War (DOW) recently brought government and industry leaders to the state for a Technology Readiness Experimentation event, showcasing emerging technologies and capabilities.

GFAFB is also one of four installations selected for a federal counter-drone pilot program announced in May. The program will test technologies such as high-powered microwaves and lasers. The effort was authorized in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which Cramer helped shape through his work on SASC.

Lohmeier is a veteran of both the Air Force and the Space Force. A 2006 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he served on active duty as a fighter pilot, flying over 1,200 hours in the T-38 and F-15C. Lohmeier has two postgraduate degrees, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science and a Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, one of DOW's premier strategy schools.