Designating Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck as Premier Test Ranges

I joined U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and members of the Indiana congressional delegation in sending a letter to Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle urging the Army to designate Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana as Premier Test Ranges under the Permissive Test Range Expansion Initiative.

Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck are ready to expand Department of Army testing of unmanned systems, counter-UAS technologies and other critical defense capabilities. Camp Atterbury has already supported testing of drones later deployed by U.S. Central Command.

Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center are uniquely positioned to help our military prepare for the threats of tomorrow. Designating these facilities as Premier Test Ranges would accelerate innovation, strengthen military readiness, and build on Indiana’s important role in our national defense. This designation would help ensure our service members have the capabilities they need to confront emerging threats and keep Americans safe.

Read more here.

Design Summit in Columbus

Columbus is known for its unique architecture and civic investment, making it the perfect location for a statewide summit focused on excellence in design. Thanks to the Landmark Columbus Foundation for bringing Hoosier leaders together to focus on enhancing our communities. Read more about this event here.

NSC Should Discuss Emerging AI Threats

The United States must remain the global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring the federal government keeps pace with rapidly advancing AI capabilities and the potential security risks they represent. I recently sent a letter to U.S. National Security Advisor Marco Rubio calling on the National Security Council to convene recurring discussions between federal officials, leading artificial intelligence developers, cybersecurity experts, researchers, and critical infrastructure representatives to identify and address emerging national security threats posed by advanced AI systems.

Recent developments involving frontier AI models have further demonstrated the ability of advanced systems to circumvent safeguards, interact with external systems, and substantially enhance offensive cyber capabilities. These incidents underscore the need for the U.S. government to better understand and address emerging threats before they result in more serious consequences.

Read the full text of my letter here. Watch me discuss this issue here or by clicking the image above.

Indiana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ag Professionals

I enjoyed meeting with Hoosiers participating in Indiana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ag Professionals program. We discussed the future of Hoosier ag, the Farm Bill, and trade.

Learn more about this program here.

IU Biotechnology Symposium

I addressed Indiana University’s Biotechnology Symposium in Indianapolis on Thursday and highlighted Indiana’s growing role in the life sciences industry and the national security implications of biotechnology.

I talked about my work serving as Chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), China’s biotech ambitions, why the U.S. needs to stay ahead, and expanding opportunities for Hoosier workers. Biotechnology is critical to our national security, economic competitiveness, and quality of life. The NSCEB laid out a roadmap to ensure the United States leads the next age of biotechnology, and Indiana University is well-positioned to help turn that vision into a reality. By bringing together talented researchers across disciplines, IU is advancing the kind of innovation that will strengthen America’s leadership in this critical sector.

During the symposium, IU announced six research awards through its National Security Biotech for Defense program. The awards support interdisciplinary research projects focused on advancing biotechnology applications in areas including battlefield medicine, biological threat detection, advanced materials, and biomanufacturing. More information on the awards and the symposium is available here.

Sweetwater Expands in Fort Wayne

Our team joined Sweetwater at a ceremony this week celebrating the major expansion of its distribution center in Fort Wayne. We are grateful for this long-time Hoosier employer’s continued commitment to northeast Indiana.