Hennen: Grand Forks: Where America’s future is being defended

What is happening in and around Grand Forks these days is a little-known secret that deserves a very big megaphone. Something extraordinary is taking shape around the Grand Forks Air Force Base, GrandSKY and the University of North Dakota. And the rest of America ought to pay attention. Consider the lineup of private sector heft General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, A/V Inc (Blue Halo), Armada.Ai, Persistent Systems, emerging local innovators like KAZE Drones Inc, a company building drones every day at The Hive in downtown Grand Forks and many more, big and small. Speaking of big, add other Department of War services like the U.S. Space Force, Space Development Agency, North Dakota National Guard and Air National Guard, and you have an impressive collection of patriots working toward a common mission: America wins. China loses. This is not some distant science-fiction project. It is happening right now, right here in North Dakota. The race includes winning in space, identif