Keeping politics aside, it is quite noteworthy that UND will have Janet Napolitano, US Secretary of Homeland Security, give the commencement address this spring. With all of the work UND is doing with Unmaned Aerial Vehicles, it wise to bring in someone who may be instrumental in helping UND in that capacity.
Additionally, I know that there is also a push by Conrad to have GFAFB as the home for two squadrons of the MC-12 surveillance aircraft.
Maybe a collaborative effort going on here.