NASA astronaut James Buchli presented with Rough Rider Award
Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday presented NASA astronaut James Buchli with the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, the state’s highest commendation for its citizens, highlighting his significant impact on aerospace and his trailblazing career as the first North Dakotan to fly in space.
“It’s my incredible honor today to be here to share a little bit more about an individual of exemplary character, of incredible and remarkable service to our country, and someone who has literally gone further and gone higher than any other North Dakotan in history,” Burgum said.
Burgum announced Buchli (pronounced Buck-lee) as the 49th recipient of the Rough Rider Award on May 20. The award was presented during a ceremony in Robin Hall at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks with more than 150 family, friends and colleagues in attendance, including Buchli’s wife of 54 years, Jean.
Buchli was born in New Rockford, graduated from Fargo Central High School and was a distinguished Marine Corps aviator who served in the Vietnam War before becoming a NASA astronaut with a career marked by impeccable service and groundbreaking achievements. He became the first North Dakotan to fly in space and is a veteran of four space flights. He has orbited the Earth 319 times, traveled 7.74 million miles and spent more than 20 days in space.
“Jim’s life and career touched every corner of North Dakota, inspiring generations of people who looked to space for their career and proving to all of us that there’s no limit to what a North Dakotan can do,” Burgum said.
Buchli credited his upbringing in North Dakota with providing inspirational teachers, coaches and other role models, saying, “North Dakota is a unique place. All of us who come from there have benefited greatly.” He cited President Roosevelt’s famous quote in which Roosevelt said, “I would not have been President had it not been for my experience in North Dakota.”
“And I think that’s probably true for a lot of us,” Buchli said. “If it wasn’t for the time that we spent in North Dakota, we would not have done some of the things that we’ve been able to do in our careers and our lives.”
Buchli was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2019, solidifying his legacy as one of the foremost figures in American space history. He has frequently returned to North Dakota, engaging with UND’s Space Studies program and inspiring future generations of aerospace professionals.
“When I talk to children and students, young adults, I talk about those things that are important as they have been in growing up in North Dakota – those attributes of hard work, tenacity, goals, those are things that make the difference in whether you’re going to be successful or whether you’re not,” Buchli said. “And so I’m very proud to have been in a place where that is part of our culture, and I hope that culture is going to stay with us for years to come.”
Former UND Dean of Aerospace Bruce Smith, who nominated Buchli for the Rough Rider Award, praised Buchli’s “extensive” support of UND and Buchli’s close friendship with the late John D. Odegard, founder and former dean of UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and also a 2015 Rough Rider Award recipient. Smith called Buchli “a great person” and drew a laugh when he quoted one of the other nomination letters that made the case for Buchli to receive the Rough Rider Award by stating bluntly, “He’s an astronaut, for cryin’ out loud.”
Current Dean of Aerospace Robert Kraus recalled how Buchli participated in a Space Studies symposium at UND in 2018, delivering a keynote address titled “From North Dakota to NASA” and stayed in touch with several students afterward, “truly providing inspiration to the next generation.”
“Jim was, and is, a great friend of UND, UND Aerospace, that’s why we’re here honoring him at this location today,” Kraus said.
As Buchli concluded his remarks, he presented Burgum with a North Dakota state flag that Buchli had flown in space in 1985 during the first of his four successful Space Shuttle missions. Burgum thanked him for the flag, which will be placed in the care of the State Historical Society, and as a token of appreciation he presented Buchli with a North Dakota flag that was recently flown over the State Capitol.
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe and State Historical Society Director Bill Peterson, both of whom concurred with Burgum’s selection of Buchli for the Rough Rider Award, assisted in unveiling the official portrait of Buchli. The portrait was painted by Minot-based artist Vern Skaug, who since 1970 has painted many of the portraits hanging in the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Hall of Fame at the North Dakota Capitol. The portrait will be installed at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Established during the 1961 Dakota Territory Centennial, the award was initially given as an honorary rank of Colonel in the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders.
Nominate a member of Team ND for the Governor's Awards for Excellence in Public Service
Every day, members of Team ND are making a difference in the lives of our fellow North Dakotans to Empower People, Improve Lives and Inspire Success. Team members at every level are going above and beyond to put our citizens first by working across teams, agencies and branches to solve problems and rise above challenges.
The Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Public Service are an opportunity for each of us to share our gratitude for the many individuals who collectively make Team ND a world-class organization dedicated to its citizens. We encourage all members of Team ND to think about those team members who go above and beyond to serve citizens, to support the team and to create a stronger North Dakota. Then, recognize their efforts with a nomination for a Governor’s Award!
Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 31, and team members can submit several nominations across nine award types:
- Heritage Award for Excellence in Citizen Focus
- Telegraph Award for Excellence in Technology
- Pioneer Award for Excellence in Innovation
- Zezula Award for the One Who Helps
- Landmark Award for Excellence in People Management
- Frontier Award for Excellence in Continuous Learning
- Harvest Award for Excellence in Quality
- Sodbuster Award for Excellence in Growth Mindset
- Roaming Bison Award for Excellence in Work as One Culture (team award)
Recognition is made possible through your active participation. Last year, more than 600 members of Team ND were recognized in nearly 1,000 nominations submitted. This year, we hope to recognize even more exceptional Team ND members.
Burgum declares summer storm disaster in central North Dakota following severe weather, flooding
Gov. Burgum has issued an executive order declaring a summer storm disaster in central North Dakota following severe weather that caused significant flood-related damages to the region. The declaration comes in response to greater than average precipitation levels recorded in June and July, leading to extensive damage to both gravel and paved roadways.
From June 2 to July 17, the National Weather Service reported rainfall totals ranging from 6 to 9 inches across central North Dakota. Stutsman County experienced 125% to 150% of normal rainfall, making it the 15th-wettest June on record and the wettest since 2014.
Severe weather characterized by torrential rain, localized hail and straight-line winds has resulted in damages exceeding $30 million at 13 different sites. The Stutsman County Commission has already issued an emergency declaration due to the widespread impact on fields, homes, agricultural and commercial buildings, county, township and city roads, and other public facilities.
This declaration allows the North Dakota Department of Transportation to tap into the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief funds as agencies at all levels of government work to restore the infrastructure that was damaged during this disaster. Teams will also put forward mitigation measures to continue making North Dakota infrastructure and communities more resilient for future disaster events.
North Dakota Information Technology to host broadband summit on Aug. 29
North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) will convene BroadbaND 2024!, the state’s first broadband summit. The summit will be held Aug. 29 at Bismarck State College and will be open to Broadband Association of North Dakota (BAND) members, internet service providers, tribal government representatives, local government representatives, nonprofit organizations and interested members of the public.
BroadbaND 2024! will feature roundtable discussions regarding the state’s Capital Project Funds (CPF) broadband projects, activities related to Broadband Equity Access Deployment (BEAD), and the state’s plans regarding Digital Equity (DE) Capacity and Competitive grants. The event also will feature industry speakers and technology providers. The keynote speaker will be Michael Romano, executive vice president of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association.
The summit aims to connect local broadband stakeholders to the Broadband Office and facilitate partnerships for successful deployment. The event will help inform local broadband stakeholders of North Dakota broadband activities as they relate to the BEAD, DE, and CPF programs. In addition, the summit plans to create opportunities for discussion of other key broadband topics.
“This broadband summit is the first of its kind in North Dakota, and we expect it to be an annual event,” NDIT State Broadband Program Director Brian D. Newby said. “Our hope is to raise awareness of the great work underway with our state’s carriers, telecommunications co-ops and internet service providers. Thanks to them, a higher percentage of residents have access to the highest speeds of internet service than nearly any state in the country. We also seek to collaborate on methods to increase digital adoption and use of applications that will help all North Dakotans in our everyday lives.”
The event is free, but registration is required, and seating capacity is limited. For more information and to register, visit ndit.nd.gov/broadband.
Main Street ND Summit registration is now open!
Registration is open for the 2024 Main Street ND Summit taking place Aug. 27-29 in Watford City.
The Main Street ND Summit is provides an opportunity to join forces with local leaders, experts and passionate citizens to share winning strategies, spark fresh ideas and chart a course for regional prosperity.
This year's theme, "Regional Prosperity," is a call to action. Bring a neighbor, colleague or classmate and get ready to return home energized and equipped to build a brighter future for your community.
Beyond the inspiring sessions, the Main Street ND Summit offers a variety of exciting activities to immerse yourself in the heart of Watford City:
- Main Street Kickoff Street Fair ( 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27): Enjoy a mechanical bull, wagon rides, live music, food trucks, and local shopping!
- Long X Visitor Center Little Market, Green Mile Block Party, and City Trail Walk (5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28,): Explore local vendors, stroll through the park, and walk the city's historical trail.
- Arts Reception (5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28): Mingle with artists and staff from the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
- Main Street Bison Sip 'n Paint ( 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28): Unleash your creativity in this beginner-friendly painting class (separate registration required).
Don't wait – secure your spot at the Main Street ND Summit and book your hotel room today!
Registration now open for Recovery Reinvented
Registration for Recovery Reinvented is now open for the in-person event Oct. 30, 2024, at the Bismarck Event Center.
State and national addiction experts will share their insight into how to turn "Advocacy into Action" at the eighth annual Recovery Reinvented, an event dedicated to ending the shame and stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.
The experience will be hosted by Gov. Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum and will be free for both in-person attendees and online via livestream broadcast on recoveryreinvented.com.
Recovery Reinvented is free and open to the public, but space is limited, and registration is required. Registrants will be asked to indicate if they will attend in-person or virtually for the day-of experience and may update their registration status at any point.
2024 Governor’s Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism Now Open
The North Dakota Governor's Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism is back, inviting residents to capture the beauty and excitement of our state for a chance to win cash prizes and statewide recognition. This year’s contest is a partnership between the Governor's Office, AAA of North Dakota, North Dakota Tourism and the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
“North Dakota is a state of extraordinary beauty and diverse experiences, and this photo contest is a wonderful opportunity for residents to showcase what makes our state special,” Gov. Burgum said. “We encourage everyone to participate, capture the magic of our seasons, and share their unique perspectives with the world. Let’s celebrate North Dakota’s beauty together and inspire others to discover our great state.”
This year's theme highlights North Dakota's diverse seasons, showcasing the unique appeal of our state throughout the year. Photographers can submit entries in eight categories:
- Winter Scenery & Winter Activities
- Fall Scenery & Fall Activities
- Spring Scenery & Spring Activities
- Summer Scenery & Summer Activities
The contest is open to all North Dakota residents. Photographers can submit their entries online through Instagram, the contest website, or Flickr, or by mail. The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2025.
Winners will be chosen in each category, with a grand prize winner receiving an additional cash prize and a free AAA membership. Winning photos will also be displayed in the State Capitol and used in promotional materials.
Full details and contest rules can be found at https://www.ndtourism.com/governors-photo-contest-entry.