Air Force and academic community come together for future of unmanned aircraft systems Published Aug. 7, 2009 By 2nd Lt. Anastasia Wasem 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Key members of the United States Air Force and the national academic community attended an unmanned aircraft systems symposium at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D., Aug. 4 to 6. The goal of this three-day symposium was to identify opportunities for UAS training, development, research and to introduce the Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan for 2009 to 2047. Gen. Stephen Lorenz, Air Education and Training Command commander, called on the younger generation for the innovation and creativity needed to go into the future of UASs, commenting that the future of UASs will need the cooperation from many key organizations. "We're looking for new and innovative ideas and what better place to get them than here," said General Lorenz about UND and Grand Forks. The AF will train more UAS pilots than fighter and bomber pilots [this year] due to the immediate demand for UAS operators and UAS capability, said General Lorenz. "This region is a premier region for UAS development," said Gov. John Hoeven of North Dakota. Due to the cold climate and the need to train in all types of weather, Grand Forks gives the Air Force an undeniable advantage, said Hoeven. Over the next eight months, an implementation plan will be created in order to achieve the goals of the future of UASs, said Col. Eric Mathewson, Air Force UAS Task Force director.