Speakers

Lt. Gen. Michael J. Lutton is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and Deputy Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, global strike capability, and combat support to USSTRATCOM and the geographic combatant commands. The command is comprised of more than 33,700 professionals operating at two numbered air forces; 11 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve wings; and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center. Weapons systems assigned to AFGSC include all Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles and bomber aircraft, UH-1N helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft and the Air Force NC3 weapons system.

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Colonel Tytonia “Ty” Moore is the Deputy Director of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Modernization, Site Activation Task Force at Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In this position, he assists the Director of ICBM Modernization in overseeing and coordinating the activities of the Air Force in support of the deployment of the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM weapon system and the retirement of the LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM weapon system.

Major General William A. Chambers, USAF (retired) served in uniform for 35 years, culminating in duty as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U. S. Air Force, Washington D.C. In that role, he directed the policy, planning, advocacy, and assessment for Air Force nuclear weapon systems.
Since retirement from active duty in 2013, he has been employed by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a Federally-funded Research and Development Center, which provides analyses for the Department of Defense on a full range of national security issues. At IDA, he leads research teams focused on nuclear weapons policy and strategy as well as strategic force structure modernization, regional conflict, conventional-nuclear integration, operational planning, nuclear command and control, and Nuclear Enterprise infrastructure. His team provides analyses of potential changes to US nuclear policy, conducts research into risks to the Nation’s nuclear deterrent capabilities, performs studies that inform the Nuclear Posture Review and its implementation, and leads congressionally-mandated studies of the DoD and DOE nuclear security enterprises. General Chambers also serves as Executive Director of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, Co-Chair of the Defense Science Board’s Permanent Subcommittee on Nuclear Weapons Surety, and as a member of CDRUSSTRATCOM’s Strategic Advisory Group where he leads the Bomber Task Force.

The Hon. David L. Norquist is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). He joined NDIA on May 1, 2022 bringing with him more than 30 years of public and private sector experience in national security and federal financial management.

Mr. Norquist previously served as the 34th Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2019 to 2021 and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Department of Defense (DoD), including managing the Pentagon’s budget and personnel. He led reforms in DoD business processes and realigned investments toward the challenges of multi-domain warfare. At the request of the Biden Administration, Mr. Norquist served as Acting Secretary of Defense and continued as Deputy Secretary until the Senate confirmed Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

An Ohio native, Phil Wisecup graduated from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis spending 36 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of 3-star Admiral.  Since participating in the “Third Taiwan Straits Crisis” in 1996 as a destroyer commanding officer, later head of the White House Situation Room, and as  carrier strike group commander, he has been a keen China observer.  Phil has spent years operating in the Pacific, and lived with his family in Seoul, Korea, where he commanded US Naval Forces there.  As 52^nd President of the US Naval War College he was responsible for extensive war gaming, research, and exercises of all kinds, and his last active-duty assignment was Naval Inspector General.  Most recently he ran the CNO Strategic Studies Group, and then served as Vice Chancellor for strategy and strategic engagement for the North Dakota University System.  He lives in Bismarck, where he is an independent investor and analyst.   

Anna Batta is Associate Professor in the Department of International Security Studies at the Air War College. Her teaching and research interests include Russian politics and foreign policy, Eastern European politics, and the politics of authoritarian states. Her book, The Russian Minorities in the former Soviet Republics: Secession, Integration, and Homeland, was published in 2022 with Routledge. Further, she has published in academic journals, such as Ethnopolitics, Communist and Post-Communist Studies, Civil Wars, and Party Politics. Dr Batta holds a PhD in Political Science in Conflict Studies from the University of North Texas. She grew up in Hungary during the Cold War.

Senator John Hoeven was sworn in as North Dakota’s 22nd U.S. Senator, following ten years of service as the state’s governor. He is a member of the Defenser Subcommittee of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations which is tasked with writing the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. He also serves on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Committee on Indian Affairs.

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Congressman Kelly Armstrong is a lifelong, devoted North Dakotan and a tireless advocate for making North Dakota a better place to live and work. With his background in business, his love for the outdoors and his volunteer and public service experience, Kelly is fighting for our North Dakota values in Washington and working to advance positive changes to benefit our state and country. Kelly serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government for the 118th Congress. Kelly was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing the entire state of North Dakota in 2018.

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Doug Burgum took office as the 33rd governor of North Dakota on Dec. 15, 2016. Doug brings a business leader’s approach to diversifying the economy, creating 21st century jobs, and revitalizing our main streets.

Today, North Dakota has the nation’s fifth-highest GDP per capita, ranks second in energy production per capita and boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

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Tom Ross was elected mayor of Minot in June 2022 after serving as a member of the Minot City Council since June 2020. He was born and raised in Minot, attending Bishop Ryan High School, and Minot State University. He has 20 years’ experience in the television broadcasting industry. He is currently the Workforce Development Coordinator for Quentin Burdick Job Corp. Tom is a member of the Minot State University Board of Regents, Minot Area Chamber EDC, Task Force 21, has served on: Beaver Booster Board of Directors, the Minot Public School Ag Advisory Committee, and he is and FFA alumni.  

Mark J. Jantzer is a resident of Minot, North Dakota, and the long-time Chair of Task Force 21, Minot’s base retention and future military missions organization. As a Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command Civic Leader, Jantzer advises the commanders, and advocates and educates on issues affecting airmen. Appointed by the Governor to Task Force Military Issues North Dakota, Jantzer works to make North Dakota a desirable location for the military. Jantzer is a founding board member of the Strategic Deterrent Coalition, a nonprofit organizations that seeks to insure a robust strategic deterrent. Elected to the Minot City Council in 2008, Jantzer has served continuously and is currently Council President. 

Brekka Kramer is the President | CEO of the Minot Area Chamber EDC and member of Task Force 21 (TF21). TF21 is an activity of the Minot Area Chamber EDC that educates the local community, ND officials, member of Congress, the public on national security issues, particularly ones that affect Minot Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force and nuclear deterrence. Kramer serves on Governor Burgum’s Task Force for Military Issues in North Dakota executive committee and was appointed to the Air Force Global Strike Command Civic Leader group in 2015. Kramer has over twenty years of experience leading initiatives and moving public policy forward using vast networks of local, state, and national connections prior to joining the Minot Area Chamber EDC in May 2022.