DAYTON, Ohio – The U.S. Air Force notified the Dayton Development Coalition on Friday that Ohio’s nomination to host U.S. Space Command has met the required screening criteria and advanced to the evaluation phase.

“We look forward to sharing with the Air Force why the Dayton Region and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are the best choice to host Space Command headquarters,” said DDC Executive Vice President for Aerospace and Defense Elaine Bryant. “We have the workforce, quality of life, and strong support for our military families.  We also have Wright-Patt’s expansive infrastructure and strong connection to the Space Command mission with organizations like the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory.”

In June, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine endorsed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the surrounding Dayton Region as the ideal location for the new United States Space Command headquarters.

"Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Dayton region would be excellent hosts for the U.S. Space Command's new headquarters," Gov. DeWine said. "This area is already home to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, and Air Force Material Command. It's a powerful combination and a synergy that you can't find anywhere else."

In a letter sent to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Gov. DeWine endorsed the nomination. A letter signed by 22 area mayors and four county commission presidents was also submitted expressing mutual support for the Dayton Region to be considered for the permanent U.S. Space Command headquarters. Ohio’s Congressional delegation submitted a letter in favor of the nomination, as well as JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef.

The Department of the Air Force, in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, announced in May that it would accept nominations for the headquarters' location based on specific criteria. WPAFB and the Dayton region met all of the screening requirements. The Air Force plans to make an initial selection of top candidates in November, with the selection announced early next year.

If selected, the new headquarters could bring up to 1,400 personnel to Ohio.

###

The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) is the leading economic development organization for the 14-county Dayton Region. Working closely with public and private regional partners, its mission is to recruit, expand and retain jobs. The DDC and the Dayton Region ranked as the nation’s top metro for its size for economic development in 2008, 2009 , 2012 and 2019 and runner-up in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015. With the State’s largest single-site employer in its backyard, the DDC also focuses on advocating for the critical missions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and supporting the work of the United States Air Force. The Association of Defense Communities presented the DDC and the State of Ohio with the 2015 Community Excellence Award. It was designated as one of the ADC’s first Great American Defense Communities in 2016 – a testament to the collaborative efforts in support of Wright-Patt, America’s #1 Air Force Base as ranked by the Air Force Times (2014).

For additional information, contact Shannon Joyce Neal at (937) 231-5436.