UND LEADS: Broad Perspectives on National Security
Join us for our speaker series focusing on key topics of national security.
Each fall and spring semester, UND invites a prominent, national expert to speak at an event hosted by President Andrew Armacost. The fall event is held on the UND campus in Grand Forks, N.D., and the spring event in Washington, D.C. This series serves as a complement to the University’s National Security Initiative, which focuses on research and educating tomorrow’s workforce leaders in national security.
John McNiff
John McNiff
John McNiff, Vice President and General Manager for Iridium
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
John McNiff has served as Iridium’s Vice President and General Manager, Space Development since February 2024. He leads Iridium’s Space Development Agency (SDA) related business as it establishes operations and ground infrastructure for the Agency’s low earth orbit Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) mission.
Iridium’s scope in this program includes network engineering, ground entry point development, mission operations, payload data management, and software development. John possesses more than 30 years of telecommunications and national security experience, including executive roles with Microsoft Federal, Northrop Grumman, and GTE. He holds a bachelor's degree from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Patrick "Mike" Shortsleeve
Patrick "Mike" Shortsleeve
Patrick "Mike" Shortsleeve, Vice President, Strategic Development General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Patrick M. “Mike” Shortsleeve is a distinguished national security and intelligence professional whose 35-year career bridges military service and defense industry leadership. His expertise spans intelligence operations, strategic planning, and unmanned systems integration across multiple theaters of operation. Mr. Shortsleeve began his career as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, where he served for 28 years. His assignments took him across the globe, including the Pacific region, Europe, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as staff positions at NATO and the Pentagon.
Among his most significant military assignments, he commanded the Air Force’s sole intelligence squadron operating in Iraq, where he led critical intelligence operations in support of combat missions. In Afghanistan, he directed operations for the largest assembly of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities ever deployed in that theater, coordinating complex multi-platform intelligence operations. He also served as the Senior Intelligence Officer at NATO’s Air Command, where he provided strategic intelligence guidance for alliance air operations.
Throughout his military career, he demonstrated exceptional leadership in high-stakes operational environments, earning recognition for his ability to integrate intelligence capabilities with combat operations and strategic decision-making. Following his retirement as a Colonel from the Air Force in 2019, he joined General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a global leader in unmanned aerial systems. In this role, he applies his extensive intelligence and operational background to advance the company’s strategic position in the rapidly evolving unmanned systems market, bridging the gap between operational requirements and technological innovation.
As Vice President of Strategic Development, Mr. Shortsleeve leads a team of business professionals in developing and executing strategies that advance the company’s comprehensive portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems and associated technologies to U.S. Government customers. He oversees a diverse range of platforms and capabilities, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian, MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-20 Avenger, mission sensors and payloads, autonomy solutions, and next-generation UAS concepts, positioning General Atomics at the forefront of unmanned systems innovation and integration.
Mr. Shortsleeve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cartography and Photogrammetry from Texas State University and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a distinguished graduate of Air University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science, and served as a National Defense Fellow at Georgetown University.
Past Events
Benjamin Davies
Benjamin Davies
Benjamin Davies, Corporate Vice President and President, Northrop Grumman Defense
Systems
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Memorial Union Ballroom
Benjamin Davies is corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems sector, a leading global provider of defense solutions to enable decision-making and defeat advanced threats while supporting military operations and readiness.
Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain
Lt. Gen. Spain
April 1, 2025
2025 Defense Communities National Summit
Arlington, VA
Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He leads the development and implementation of policy directly supporting global operations, force management, training and readiness for the Air Force and serves as the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Air Force Chief of Staff.
Lt. Gen. Spain entered the Air Force in 1994 through the ROTC program, graduating from Villanova University. He has spent the majority of his career in aviation and command assignments accumulating more than 2,150 flight hours, deploying and serving in joint positions extensively. Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Spain was the Director of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
General Robinson
On Sept. 27, 2024, USAF Gen. Lori J. Robinson lead off the UND discussion series with UND President Andrew Armacost. Gen. Robinson is the the first woman to lead a U.S. combatant command and the former commander of the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Gen. Lori J. Robinson
Gen. Robinson has had a historic career. After first being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 1981, she rose through the ranks of the Air Force to become a Brigadier General in July 2008. She ascended the ranks again ultimately attaining the rank of General in October 2014.
Gen. Robinson was among 13 women featured in a 2016 Time Magazine article about the world’s most influential women, and has been featured in multiple other publications.
Gen. Robinson is the former commander of USNORTHCOM, which made her the first woman in U.S. history to lead a combatant command. There are 11 combatant commands that the U.S. military administers. USNORTHCOM conducts all military matters in North America and assists non-military entities in times of need. While commander of USNORTHCOM, Gen. Robinson also simultaneously led the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Media
Media wishing to attend may contact:
David Dodds
Director of Communication
david.dodds@UND.edu
701.777.5529
Contact
For general event questions, please email UND.eventrsvp@UND.edu.