Gronewold comes ‘home’ to the Pendleton UAS Range
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton UAS Range (PUR) hosted the adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard (ONG) and other leaders from the guard. It was a chance to welcome Brigadier Gen. Al Gronewold home. He served as a lieutenant colonel at the Pendleton ONG armory and was a member of the board for the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport.
Pendleton Airport and Economic Development Director Steve Chrisman presented Gronewold with a formal letter of appreciation recognizing nearly 85 years of partnership between Pendleton and the Oregon Army National Guard as well as his pivotal role in shaping what the Pendleton UAS Range has become today.
“More than a decade ago, then-Lieutenant Colonel Gronewold helped set in motion the idea that Pendleton’s low-traffic airspace and robust infrastructure could support something bigger,” PUR stated in its newsletter. “That vision helped transform a small rural airport into America’s most active and respected unmanned test ranges, supporting more than 67,000 operations since inception.”
Range Manager Jesse Steele provided a status report for the ONG officers highlighting how PUR continues to innovate as a proving ground for leading commercial and defense UAS programs. PUR reports the discussion also focused on strengthening its partnership with the Oregon Army National Guard in support of the United States Department of War directive for U.S. drone dominance.
Photo via PUR from L-R, Brigadier General Alan Gronewold accepts a framed salute to him and the Oregon Army National Guard from Steve Chrisman.
