News release from office of  Congressman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.):

“A new mission will bring 280 military and civilian personnel to Whiteman Air Force Base. The new MQ-1 Remote Split Operation squadron and ground control station at Whiteman Air Force Base, from which pilots will control MQ-1 Predator drone aircraft, is expected to be operational by February 2011.”

Here’s some wikipedia info on the MQ-1 Predator. I assume this means the men and women at Whiteman AFB will have their hands on the joy sticks controlling the birds (which cost 4.5 million dollars each) around the world.