Beyond the Gates: T-REX, Camp Grafton and What Comes Next

On Wednesday evening, the Devils Lake Area Chamber of Commerce had the opportunity to do something we love to do — bring people together.

 

We welcomed participants of Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 26-3, currently taking place at Camp Grafton, together with members of our Chamber and local business community for an evening at The Shores at Woodland Resort.

 

And our community showed up.

 

We had a great mix of T-REX participants, military representatives, industry partners and local business leaders in the room. There were introductions made, conversations started, questions asked and connections built. More importantly, our guests had an opportunity to experience a little bit of Devils Lake beyond the gates of Camp Grafton.

 

So, What Exactly is T-REX?

T-REX stands for Technology Readiness Experimentation, an initiative designed to accelerate the development, evaluation and delivery of emerging technologies to the warfighter.

 

In simple terms, T-REX takes promising technology out of the laboratory and puts it into realistic operating environments where military personnel can test it, provide feedback and determine whether it can solve real-world challenges.

 

That matters because technology is changing incredibly fast — and the way our military evaluates and puts that technology to use needs to move quickly as well.

 

Rather than waiting until a technology is fully developed to determine whether it works in the field, T-REX allows industry, government and military partners to work side-by-side, test emerging capabilities, make adjustments and learn from what works — and what doesn't.

 

That real-world testing environment is also part of what makes Camp Grafton such a strong fit for this type of work.

 

 

T-REX 26-3 at Camp Grafton is focused primarily on Contested Logistics, including technologies that can help sustain operations in disrupted or denied environments. That can include everything from unmanned delivery systems and advanced power solutions to manufacturing in the field and technologies that allow warfighters to operate more independently.

 

The goal is ultimately pretty straightforward: get the right technology into the hands of our warfighters faster.

 

Why Devils Lake — and Why This Matters

 

There is a bigger story developing right here in North Dakota, and I think what we heard throughout Wednesday evening gives us good reason to be excited about where it could lead.

 

Camp Grafton and the North Dakota National Guard are becoming part of a growing effort to test, evaluate and advance emerging defense technologies. But what became especially clear in talking with T-REX participants is that Camp Grafton isn't simply a location to host an event. The environment itself is an asset.

 

Companies developing new technologies can do a tremendous amount of work in laboratories, controlled testing sites and locations close to home. Eventually, though, they need to know how that technology performs somewhere different — on unfamiliar terrain, in changing conditions and outside of the environment where it was developed.

 

Camp Grafton can provide that.

 

That creates an opportunity that extends well beyond one T-REX event.

 

If companies and military partners find value in testing here, the potential exists for continued experimentation, additional visits and deeper relationships with Camp Grafton and the Lake Region. With that can come opportunities for lodging, dining, transportation, supplies, services and countless other needs that involve businesses throughout our community.

 

There may also be opportunities we haven't even identified yet.

 

That is what makes this so exciting.

 

We don't know exactly where all of these conversations will lead, and we certainly don't want to get ahead of what is still developing. But we do know that when people leave Camp Grafton talking about the value of testing here, we should be paying attention.

 

We want Devils Lake to be part of what comes next.

 

Wednesday night's reception was one small piece of that. It gave our local businesses an opportunity to meet some of the people doing this work, learn more about what is happening practically in our backyard and begin building relationships that could matter as T-REX and other initiatives continue to develop here.

 

This is What Chamber Membership is About

 

For me, the evening was also a great example of what Chamber membership should provide.

 

Yes, we promote businesses. We host events. We advocate. We provide resources.

 

But one of the most important things we can do is connect our members to the activity happening around them.

 

When hundreds of people representing the military, government, technology companies and private industry come into our community, we want our members to have an opportunity to be in the room.

 

We want them to ask questions.

 

We want them to make connections.

 

We want them to understand what is happening at Camp Grafton and throughout the Lake Region and think about how their business might fit into what comes next.

 

Sometimes the value of a connection is immediate. Other times, it may be a conversation that turns into an opportunity six months or several years down the road. Our job is to help create the space for those conversations to happen.

 

That is exactly what Wednesday night was about.

 

It is also why having such a strong turnout from our Chamber business partners meant so much. Our members didn't just come to attend another Chamber event. They came to welcome people to our community, learn about something important happening here and be part of the conversation about what could come next.

 

Looking Ahead

 

We are incredibly proud to have Camp Grafton as part of the Devils Lake community, and we're excited about what T-REX and other events could mean for Camp Grafton, the North Dakota National Guard and our entire region.

 

What we heard Wednesday night only added to that excitement.

 

If Camp Grafton has the terrain, space and environment these companies and military partners need to truly put emerging technologies to the test, that is something worth building upon.

 

Our role as a community is to be ready for those opportunities.

 

That means continuing to welcome the people who come here. It means building relationships with the organizations doing this work. It means making sure they understand the businesses, resources and partnerships available throughout the Lake Region. And it means continuing to show up when opportunities like this come our way.

 

We also hope every T-REX participant who joined us Wednesday evening left knowing a little more about Devils Lake — not just where we are on the map, but who we are as a community.

 

We are a community that welcomes people, values partnerships, supports those who serve and isn't afraid to roll up our sleeves when an opportunity presents itself.

 

To everyone who attended, thank you for taking the time to join us, meet our business community and experience a little bit of the Lake Region.

 

And to our Chamber members who came out to welcome our guests — thank you for showing up. That's how relationships are built, and it's how communities position themselves for whatever opportunity comes next.

 

We are excited to see where this one goes.

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

 

An evening like this doesn't happen without community partners. A sincere thank you to our sponsors for helping us welcome T-REX participants to Devils Lake and creating an opportunity to bring our military, industry and business communities together:

 

 

Your support helped us showcase the hospitality, partnership and community spirit that make Devils Lake such a great place to live, work, visit and do business.