Representative Dale Strong (AL-05), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, emphasized North Alabama’s growing role as a national leader in homeland security during the Committee’s annual “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland” hearing.
“North Alabama is at the forefront of meeting complex and evolving security challenges – from advanced counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) testing to world-class training at Redstone Arsenal,” said Rep. Dale Strong.
“I remain fully committed to strengthening our homeland security and ensuring our frontline defenders have every tool they need to keep American families safe.”
Focus on Emerging Threats and National Preparedness
The hearing addressed the most pressing threats facing the United States, including preparedness for major upcoming events and improving coordination among federal, state, and local partners. Lawmakers also reviewed the Trump Administration’s progress in securing the border and dismantling transnational criminal networks.
Congressman Strong spotlighted North Alabama’s central role in preparing the nation for emerging security risks – particularly the fast-growing drone threat.
Key Highlights from the Hearing
FBI’s National C-UAS Training Center at Redstone Arsenal
Strong questioned Michael Glasheen, Operations Director for the FBI’s National Security Branch, about how Redstone Arsenal has become the nation’s premier hub for counter-drone training.
STRONG:
“What makes Redstone such an effective location for this mission, and how does that setting support the scale of training required for the World Cup, America250, and the 2028 Olympics?”
GLASHEEN:
“What makes Redstone a great partner for us is number one, the support we have from Congress. Number two, the space we have there. The FBI has been in Huntsville for a long time. Huntsville also houses our special agent bomb technician program. We train bomb technicians, EOD professionals across the United States, and we model the C-UAS school off of that. That proof of concept has been in place, and we’re mirroring that process to train the C-UAS operators.”
Strong praised the program’s success:
“I was there for the inaugural graduation. I’m telling you, it’s most impressive. There’s no other location in the country that offers the airspace, testing ranges, partner agencies, and mission infrastructure that the FBI has at Redstone Arsenal.”
Accelerating Counter-Drone Technology Deployment
Strong also thanked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for her efforts to secure the border and asked about accelerating the deployment of advanced C-UAS technologies.
STRONG:
“Many of the most advanced counter-UAS technologies are being tested and evaluated in North Alabama. How is DHS ensuring that those capabilities transition quickly into field use – particularly ahead of these major events? And what more can Congress do to accelerate that pipeline?”
NOEM:
“Standing up a drone program and counter drone program is one of the top three priorities of the department this next year to meet the threats that we face every day. Every day, our secret service, our coast guard, our border patrol are seeing drones used against them, criminals using them to surveil them, to find out law enforcement operations, and to leak them, and to put their lives in danger. So, making sure that we have the ability to operate and to see far into the future and over our operations is important, but we also need the opportunity to take them down when necessary.
We’ve seen the cartels using weaponized drones against each other. We know it’s only a matter of time before we see that here in the homeland. My job is to make sure that we’re prepared and that we’re equipped, and to advocate to you for the authorities that we need to make that happen.”
RELATED CONTENT: FBI Opens National Counter-UAS Training Center at Redstone Arsenal
Post Image Credit: @RepDaleStrong on X.
