Fireside Chat Keynote Highlights the Interdependence Between Defense Communities and the Missions They Support

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) sat down with Grand Forks County Administrator Tom Ford for his keynote address to the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), highlighting how policy changes, modernization and oversight are improving our military capabilities and the communities around them. In the detailed discussion, Cramer talked about how Congress, the U.S. military, educational institutions, and defense industry partners are aligning policy, technology, and on-the-ground power to counter the growing capabilities of our adversaries.

"I want to know if they're willing to move faster than the speed of the bureaucracy, at least as fast as our adversaries," said Cramer. "But more importantly, I want them to know I will never be the senator on the rostrum who says, 'Gotcha,' the first time you make a mistake or the first time something you tried doesn't work. But I will hold you extra accountable if you fail to try."

The two discussed how creating a shared ecosystem of excellence around military bases, like leaders have done in Grand Forks, provides an example of how to leverage civilian infrastructure to achieve U.S. Department of War (DOW) objectives and build strong, lasting communities which become indispensable partners in America's national defense mission.

Cramer continued, "Everybody's got to be pulling in the same direction. And it's not just having power-persuasion comes from good behavior and good acting. That's where communities are just as important-if not more important-than leadership. Leadership can open the doors, but the performers are the communities… it's everybody pulling in the same direction."

In North Dakota, the Grand Forks region has built a world-class ecosystem around Grand Forks Air Force Base, the University of North Dakota, and Grand Sky, bringing together local leaders, private industry, research institutions, and the DOW to accelerate innovation in aerospace, unmanned systems, hypersonic testing, and satellite technology. This framework demonstrates how communities surrounding military infrastructure can create opportunities to leverage their own unique attributes. This crucial interface between the nation's military might and its volunteer manpower is a competitive advantage U.S. adversaries cannot match. Cramer has encouraged communities and base leadership to build strong relationships as a component of long-term economic growth in the community, but also as an incubator for innovative private sector ideas which make their way into the defense industry.

The ADC is made up of nearly 300 communities, states, regions, and organizations and acts as a connection point for leaders from communities, states, the military, and industry on community-military issues by enhancing knowledge, information sharing, and best practices. They annually recognize great defense communities like Minot, which was a 2025 awardee. North Dakota is also well represented by having Tom Ford as the ADC's President.