Chairman, Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Airland

Senator Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota

Responsibilities

North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer is chairman of SASC’s Airland subcommittee, responsible for: Army planning and operations policy and programs (less space, cyber, and special operations); planning and operations policy and programs within the Air Force (less nuclear weapons, space, cyber, and special operations); and National Guard and Reserve planning and operations policy, and equipment.

Quote

“ISR is in great need and in low supply these days,” remarked Cramer during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for now Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He went on to inquire about the prospect of ISR “landing as a mission set,” saying “everybody has their own form, but I don’t think that’s very practical.” In response, Caine said that ISR and the “ability to make decisions for commanders who hold risk,” was essential.

Committees

• Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. 
• Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. Previously served as Ranking Member (2021-2024).  
• Subcommittee on Readiness.
• Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
• Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support.

Political/Professional Career

• US Senator for North Dakota since 2019. The state is home to Minot AFB, a strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile base.
• Served three terms in the US House of Representatives as North Dakota’s At-Large Congressional District Member (2013-2019).
• Elected to the North Dakota Public Service Commission (2003-2012).
• North Dakota Public Service Commissioner (2004).
• Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party (1991-1993). 
• State Economic Development Director (1997).
• State Tourism Director, appointed in 1993.

Education

• BA of Arts from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (1983).
• MA in Management from the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND (2003).

Personal  

• Kevin John Cramer was born January 21,1961, in Rolla, ND, the first of five children of Clarice (Hjelden) and Richard Cramer. He grew up in Kindred, graduating from Kindred High School. He and his wife, Kris (Neumann), married in 1986 and together have several children and grandchildren.