The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) will present the Ohio Defense and Aerospace Forum Oct. 3 and 4, 2022, at the Sheraton Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio, bringing together community and military leaders from across the state to share information on Ohio’s defense and aerospace installations, industries, academic institutions and local and state communities.
“Defense communities play an important role in supporting military missions, and we hope the Ohio Defense & Aerospace Forum will help Ohio better understand the state’s critical role in our national defense.” said Elaine Bryant, DDC executive vice president of aerospace and defense and JobsOhio managing director for the military federal sector.
This statewide event will highlight Ohio’s defense and aerospace pillars:
- Preserve and protect Ohio’s federal installations.
- Expand Ohio’s research capabilities.
- Attract industry.
- Grow talent and workforce.
“Supporting our military installations is critical to our state’s economic growth,” said Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. “The defense industry provides excellent career opportunities for Ohio’s workforce, fueling a robust ecosystem of defense contractors, cybersecurity firms and other businesses to support the missions.”
Federal installations, including military bases, represent $69 billion in economic activity across the state, generate 380,000 jobs and account for 6% of Ohio’s economy, according to an economic impact analysis released by JobsOhio in 2022. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Dayton region is the state’s largest single-site employer with more than 32,000 employees.
The Dayton region has experienced continued growth in the defense sector, with companies including Radiance Technologies, Barbaricum, Aptima, Precision Impacts, Starwin Industries and Resonant Sciences standing up or expanding operations in the region.
In January, Sierra Nevada Corp. selected Dayton as the location for two future aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. The 16-acre Dayton International Airport site brings a modern, large-scale aviation center to the Dayton region.
The new SNC Dayton aviation facility will be capable of supporting some of the largest aviation projects in the world and result in the creation of approximately 150 new jobs in phase one alone, with room for significant growth, at the Dayton International Airport.
Ohio has worked to position itself as a friendly state for military families as well, enacting laws in recent years to make it easier for active-duty families to transition into the state. Measures have made it easier for military spouses, including teachers, with professional licenses to transfer them to the state, offer in-state tuition to military family members, and simplify the school enrollment process. Ohio’s Purple Star School program recognizes schools that create a welcoming environment for military families. Hundreds of schools have earned the designation since 2017.
“The Ohio Defense Forum was created six years ago in the hopes of fostering a statewide cohesive strategy for defense within the state. Since then, Ohio has welcomed numerous state-of-the-art national defense research and innovation opportunities,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner. “We continue to meet our goals, establishing our own defense liaison within the governor’s office and coming together annually to increase Ohio’s defense footprint among industry and installations. This event is yet another opportunity to highlight the crucial role Ohio plays in our country’s national defense.”
Confirmed speakers include:
- U.S. Rep. Michael Turner, Ohio 10th District.
- U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, Ohio 6th District.
- U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Ohio 2nd District.
- Army Maj. Gen. John Harris, adjutant general, State of Ohio
- Air Force Lt. Gen. Carl Schaefer, deputy commander, USAF Materiel Command.
- Kristin Baldwin, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force, science, technology and engineering.
- Jimmy Kenyon, Ph.D., acting director, NASA Glenn.
- Steven Morani, deputy assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, acting assistant secretary of defense for sustainment.
- Lou Von Thaer, president and CEO, Battelle.
- Retired Army Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst, director, Ohio Department of Veterans Services.
- Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Thompson.
- Edwin H. Oshiba, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment.
Panel discussions will discuss the state of national defense, Ohio’s research and development capabilities, workforce challenges and supply chain.
To register for the event, please visit ohiodefenseforum.com. The agenda will be updated as speakers are confirmed at ohiodefenseforum.com/odaf-agenda/.
The mission of the Dayton Development Coalition is to recruit, expand and retain jobs in the Dayton region. A nonprofit economic development organization, we are a regional network partner for JobsOhio, we support Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and other federal installations in the 14-count region in Southwest Ohio.
Amber Begley is the director of military affairs for the Dayton Development Coalition.