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FARGO – U.S. Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) member Kevin Cramer (R-ND) attended a ceremony today celebrating the retirement of Brigadier General Robert J. Becklund and the promotion of Colonel Robert Schulte as Brigadier General.

“North Dakota’s military assets- especially the Hooligans- are positioned as well as anybody for the future of warfighting. But as impressive as that is, none of it would work if we did not have the best of the best,” said Senator Cramer. “Thank you to General Becklund, General Schulte, and all who do such an excellent job in serving our country.”

General Becklund is the Chief of Staff for Air, Joint Force Headquarters, North Dakota National Guard, in Fargo, providing guidance and direction necessary to ensure State and Federal missions are accomplished by assigned Air National Guard units. A graduate of North Dakota State University (NDSU) and former Commander of Fargo’s Happy Hooligans, General Becklund is a major advocate for advancing UAS technology.

General Schulte is the 119th Medical Group Commander, supervising the use of base medical resources in support of this wing as well as the 219th Security Forces in Minot. Originally from Mandan, Colonel Schulte has served since 1993 and maintains a faculty appointment at the University of Mary.

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