{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/incoming-chief-of-space-operations-solidifies-commitment-to-grand-forks-and-und", "Incoming Chief of Space Operations Solidifies Commitment to Grand Forks and UND", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "www.cramer.senate.gov", "cramer", "https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "***Click hereto download video. Click here for audio.***\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) today considered the nomination of Lieutenant General Douglas Schiess to serve as the next Chief of Space Operations. If confirmed, Schiess, who previously served at Grand Forks Air Force Base from April 1993 to September 1995 in multiple missile operations roles, would become the third leader of U.S. Space Force, succeeding Gen. Chance Saltzman.\n\nDuring the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee and co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus, secured Schiess\u2019 commitment to maintain the Space Force\u2019s partnership with Grand Forks Air Force Base and the University of North Dakota (UND). They also discussed preserving the service\u2019s rapid acquisition culture as the Space Development Agency (SDA) transitions to a new format under the Space Force.\n\nThis year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes $250 million for a new Space Force operations facility at Grand Forks Air Force Base, expanding the installation\u2019s role in next-generation space missions. During the hearing, Cramer highlighted Grand Forks\u2019 existing SDA operations center and airborne ISR mission, calling it a natural fit for the growing Space Force presence on the base. He explained how the move cements North Dakota\u2019s strong partnership with the Space Force.\n\nAsked by Cramer whether he would continue the Space Force\u2019s partnership with Grand Forks, Schiess agreed he would.\n\nThe discussion then turned to the future of the SDA following its integration into the Space Force. Cramer said while it wasn\u2019t his ideas to include a provision in the NDAA eliminating SDA, he supports ensuring the Space Force maintains the speed and innovation which made SDA successful, particularly as responsibility shifts to the new Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs).\n\n\u201cI'm confident because of the Space Force's vision that the new Portfolio Acquisition Executives will operate and function much like the Space Development Agency director, particularly as it aims to get the [low Earth orbit] constellation, the transport layer, utilizing spiral development,\u201d said Cramer.\n\nCramer stressed the importance of maintaining the pace of innovation as Schiess assumes leadership.\n\n\u201cNow you get to implement them, and I\u2019d be interested in how you see that playing out,\u201d Cramer said.\n\nSchiess called SDA an \u201cincredible organization\u201d and said the Space Force intends to carry its successful acquisition practices into the new structure.\n\n\u201cWhat I would say in working with Secretary Meink and if confirmed, continuing to work with him, the Portfolio Acquisition Executives are trying to take all of the things that the SDA did correct and put those in all of the PAEs,\u201d said Schiess. \u201cSecretary Meink talks about giving 90% of contracting to them. What I would say to you, if confirmed, I promise you to continue to work that so that all of our PAEs take some of that capability to bring on fast systems.\u201d\n\nCramer encouraged the Space Force to continue leading innovation across the joint force. Earlier in the hearing, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) said he was a skeptic about the Space Force at first and noted how Cramer was the principal sponsor of its creation. King noted how the Space Force is providing an essential part of the deterrent and the defense of the nation.\n\nCramer pointed to Schiess\u2019 exchange with King about the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), when King sought reassurance the Space Force wouldn\u2019t be duplicating with NRO.", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/incoming-chief-of-space-operations-solidifies-commitment-to-grand-forks-and-und"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.280157059431076, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}