University of North Dakota National Security Speaker Series continues April 1 in Arlington, Va.
UND President Andy Armacost to hold sit-down chat with Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain, U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Ops, as part of 2025 Defense Communities National Summit
What: UND LEADS: Broad Perspectives on National Security Speaker Series.
Who: UND President Andrew Armacost and Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, U.S. Air Force.
When: Tuesday, April 1.
Where: 2025 Association of Defense Communities National Summit, Arlington, Va.
MEDIA: Media members should contact UND Communications Director David Dodds at david.dodds@UND.edu, or 701.740.4834 to set up interviews with UND President Armacost.
Background: The University of North Dakota’s focus on national security continues to gain momentum, as it again prepares to host a national military expert in discussing key topics in the field.
The UND LEADS: Broad Perspectives on National Security Speaker Series will take place next door to the nation’s capital in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, April 1. The series sees UND President Andrew Armacost sit down before an audience with a prominent national expert to speak on topics surrounding national security. Each year, the series is held on the UND campus in the fall, and in Washington, D.C., in the spring.
Joining President Armacost on April 1 is Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, who is serving as the deputy chief of staff for operations of the U.S. Air Force. Lt. Gen. Spain leads the development and implementation of policy directly supporting global operations, force management, training and readiness for the Air Force, and serves as the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Air Force chief of staff.
The event is the second installation in the speaker series, which was set into motion when UND hosted U.S. Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson (ret.) in late September 2024. This latest installment will be held before the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) National Summit in Arlington. The ADC seeks to build “strong communities that support America’s military in every defense community/state in the nation.”
“UND is a leader in national security education through partnerships with the military, local communities and industry, and is playing a key role in producing both cutting-edge research and talented graduates ready to take up roles in the workforce,” said Armacost. “I am excited to bring our speaker series to Washington and grateful to have Lt. Gen. Spain join us to discuss important developments in national security and how universities can continue to partner to assist in the nation’s defense.”
Video: The Scholarship of National Security
The speaker series is meant to give members of the public insight into national security topics, and complements UND’s National Security Initiative, which focuses on research and educating tomorrow’s workforce leaders in national security.
UND long has been a nationally recognized leader in aerospace education and has been growing its research profile into areas in national security. Those areas include advanced research into uncrewed aircraft systems, space and satellite development, digital engineering and big data, as well as cybersecurity and more.
Efforts to grow this research profile led to UND becoming the first university to join the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program (UPP), and saw Forbes Magazine refer to the University as being key in an “unparalleled triumvirate of government, private industry and academic interests all flying in the same direction.”
People wishing to know more about how UND is engaging in “The Scholarship of Securing the Homefront” can visit the Chronicle of Higher Education’s website for more information on research projects covering everything from satellite laser communication and nano labs to 3D-printed spacesuits and beyond.
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MEDIA: Media members should contact UND Communications Director David Dodds at david.dodds@UND.edu, or 701.740.4834 to set up interviews with UND President Armacost.
David L. Dodds
Director of Communications
Marketing & Communications
University of North Dakota
701.740.4834 (Mobile)
david.dodds@UND.edu
