The U.S. Air Force has designated Dayton as its newest innovation hub, adding the Gem City to its exclusive list of off-base locations that help engage businesses to work with the military on innovative new technology.
The hub, named "Dayton DigitalWERX," was announced Friday during AFWERX Accelerate — a five-day virtual event that included a variety of keynotes, fireside chats, workshops networking opportunities and panel discussions. Sessions focused on AFWERX’s efforts to accelerate collaborative capability development, emerging technology trends, research and development, and fostering innovative and courageous problem-solvers for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.
“The establishment of Digital DaytonWERX Hub confirms what we in the Dayton region have known for decades: our community understands and supports the constantly evolving needs of the Air Force,” said Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. “The dedicated men and women at Wright-Patt work every day to defend our nation and the amazing work they do bolsters our national security.”
Dayton’s digital industry, in partnership with the Air Force, Space Force, JobsOhio, the DDC and SOCHE, will take a leading role in the military’s digital transformation.
“The announcement of Dayton DigitalWERX is a rallying cry for all our industry and academic partners in the community to come together to serve the Department of the Air Force’s digital transformation,” said Elaine Bryant, JobsOhio’s managing director for military and federal sector and the DDC’s executive vice president for aerospace and defense.
Established in 2017 by the Secretary of the Air Force, AFWERX is the Air Force's team of innovators who encourage and facilitate connections across industry, academia and the military to create transformative opportunities and foster a culture of innovation. AFWERX’s mission is to solve problems and enhance the effectiveness of the service by enabling thoughtful, deliberate, ground-up innovation.
“The establishment of an AFWERX hub in Dayton is a huge win for our community," said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Dayton). "I have been a longtime advocate with the Air Force for synergies in the Dayton region."
AFWERX Innovation hubs serve as connection and collaboration points across military, academic and entrepreneurial communities. Hubs in Los Angeles, California.; Las Vegas, Nevada.; Austin, Texas; and Washington, D.C. have driven economic growth and community engagement. Fast Company named AFWERX Best Workplaces for Innovators on the 2020 List, honoring the top 100 businesses and organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to encouraging innovation at all levels. AFWERX, ranked No. 16 in the top 20 alongside brands such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon.
“The Dayton AFWERX Hub builds on the outstanding heritage of innovation and aerospace in Ohio and the Dayton region,” said J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio. “The goal of a Hub plays to Ohio’s strengths and as digital becomes an increasing focus for our military, our talented workforce is ready for the challenge.”
The news comes a day after officials broke ground on a new advanced urban air mobility technology simulator facility at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield. The facility will feature an electric charging station for Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based aircraft manufacturing startup, and a simulator station co-located for Beta and Joby Aviation — a California-based aerospace company that develops electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
