40. Community Need Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is the State of Ohio’s largest single site employer. The Dayton Business Journal recently highlighted the enormous economic impact on the Dayton region – an annual impact
of $15.54 billion. WPAFB directly employs over 29,000 people and indirectly supports employment for 50,784. Students at Wright State University are uniquely positioned to immediately meet the workforce demands of the defense industry in the region. These jobs in demand are highly skilled that provide opportunities for Wright State graduates to earn above average salaries and the desire to continue to reside in the Dayton region. Additionally, Wright State University has nearly 1,000 active duty or retired United States Military personnel, including many that hold their existing security clearance.

It is the goal of Wright State University to assist WPAFB operations while also serving the needs of our students. Countless Wright State graduates are employed on base while current students routinely earn
internships. However, it can be cumbersome for students and graduates to obtain security clearances in a timely manner, frustrating students, graduates, and employers alike. In an effort to meet the growing demand of a talented workforce at WPAFB and recognizing a difficulty in getting those placed in jobs in a timely manner, Wright State University is seeking to establish the Clearance Assistance Program within the existing Wright State Career Services. Often times, students find traversing the security clearance process difficult and employers find it to be even more difficult to find qualified individuals to obtain their security clearances. This program is open to the over 11,000 students at Wright State University.

The proposed Clearance Assistance Program will engage students early in their collegiate career on the process of obtaining a security clearance and provide opportunities for students to connect with potential
sponsors through career fairs and presentations. This office will also coordinate with employers on and near WPAFB that are in need of interns or graduates. By doing this, Wright State University hopes to provide opportunities for students to obtain their security clearances during their undergraduate degrees through internships that will provide them with countless opportunities upon graduation while meeting a need within
the community.

By establishing this program, Wright State University will engage with WPAFB and area defense employers that are in need of talent that can obtain, or have, a security clearance. The goal is to engage students early in their collegiate career. This will include hosting workshops with partner employers, connecting students with potential internships and jobs (Security Clearance Sponsorships), and assisting students in accurately and effectively filling out the SF-86 to obtain their security clearance. Often times, not disclosing information in a detailed manner, accidentally omitting necessary information, and fatigue are contributing factors in security clearances getting delayed. This department will assist students in filling out their forms appropriately to ensure there are no unnecessary delays to the processing of the security clearance to ensure they can start their internships or jobs in a reasonable time for both the student and the employer. For those that currently have their security clearance, the primary goal will be to establish communication with these students to connect them with existing job and internship opportunities. These students can also serve as mentors for students seeking their security clearance.

By establishing this program at Wright State University, we will further assist the region by guiding students to in demand jobs in the region and support the State of Ohio’s desire to strengthen workforce development. The transition from student to employed can be difficult, especially if a 136-page SF-86 is in the way. Wright State hopes to make this transition as seamless as possible, making Dayton’s economy even stronger.