Congressman Dale W. Strong attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Counter-Unmanned Training Center (NCUTC) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The event was also attended by FBI and Administration officials, law enforcement leaders, and the first class of trainees.
The NCUTC is the first center in the United States dedicated to training law enforcement and security professionals to detect, assess, and counter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) threats. Congressman Strong described the center as an important step for national security.
“This Center represents a major step forward in how we prepare our law enforcement and security professionals to confront new and evolving threats,” said Strong. “In the years leading up to today, I’ve worked to strengthen our national counter-UAS posture, and the men and women trained here will play a critical role in securing our homeland and protecting millions of Americans.”
Strong noted that establishing this center fulfills bipartisan efforts in Congress aimed at developing a unified approach to counter-UAS training. The facility is intended to provide advanced instruction for federal, state, and local officials.
He also pointed out that the center’s work will support preparations for large-scale international events taking place in the U.S., such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.
“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 creation of the NCUTC follows Executive Order 14305 signed by President Trump on June 6, 2025. This order called for setting up a National Counter-UAS Training Center as well as forming a Federal Task Force focused on airspace security. The NCUTC is modeled after the FBI’s Hazardous Devices School.
In Congress, Rep. Strong has introduced legislation supporting standardized counter-UAS training nationwide. His proposed National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act was included in H.R. 5061—the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act—which aims to update Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) authorities regarding UAS threats.
Dale Strong has represented Alabama’s 5th district in Congress since 2023 after succeeding Mo Brooks https://strong.house.gov/about. Before serving in Congress, he was part of both the Alabama House of Representatives and Madison County Commission https://strong.house.gov/about. Born in Monrovia in 1970, he currently resides in Huntsville at age 52 https://ballotpedia.org/Dale_Strong. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Athens State University.
