SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Redstone Arsenal has once again solidified its status as a vital hub for U.S. national security with the official ribbon-cutting of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Center (NCUTC). The Huntsville area celebrated this milestone last week, welcoming the first graduating class of trainees who will be tasked with defending the nation against emerging drone threats.
The NCUTC, the first center of its kind, is now the premier national hub for training law enforcement and security professionals from federal, state, and local agencies. Its mission is to certify personnel in the safe and effective use of technology to detect, assess, and mitigate threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The intensive training curriculum, modeled after the FBI’s esteemed Hazardous Devices School, focuses on practical, safe, and effective tactics necessary to neutralize a variety of aerial dangers, protecting critical infrastructure and public safety.
Congressman Dale W. Strong (AL-05) joined officials from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for the event. He championed the center as a critical component of homeland defense, noting that the selection of Redstone Arsenal was a recognition of the area’s unmatched expertise.
“Redstone Arsenal continues to play a central role in our nation’s security mission – from missile defense and space operations to cyber innovation and counter-UAS testing,” Strong said. “Now, through this center, that world-class expertise expands even further to safeguard our communities, infrastructure, and national events.”
The center’s establishment fulfills years of bipartisan effort in Congress, including legislation championed by Representative Strong, to standardize the national approach to counter-UAS training. Strong’s legislative work helped incorporate the mandate for unified training into the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act. The NCUTC was formally directed by Executive Order 14305, “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” which also established a Federal Task Force to strengthen airspace security across the nation.
Personnel trained in Huntsville will play a key role in protecting some of the nation’s biggest upcoming security events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. The center’s operation affirms the Tennessee Valley’s expanding influence in technology and defense, ensuring that North Alabama remains at the forefront of protecting American communities and infrastructure.