Ohio Creates Aerospace/Defense Advisory Council

Ohio Governor Bob Taft last week signed legislation creating the Ohio Aerospace and Defense Council to examine state and federal laws, rules, and policies that affect the two industries and associated federal installations in Ohio. Ohio is home to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the state’s largest single-site employer, and the NASA Glen Research Center in Cleveland.



Six objectives are to be addressed by the council:

1. to increase federal funding for research and development conducted at federal installations in the state;
2. to increase, where appropriate, the operational presence of defense and aerospace activities within the state;
3. to create and improve economic opportunities for aerospace and defense companies and their workers;
4. to advise the Governor, the General Assembly and other key state officers of the policies and activities needed to achieve the council’s goals;
5. to encourage collaboration between Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the NASA Glenn Research Center on projects of major strategic importance to the Department of Defense and NASA; and
6. to act as the advocate with Congress, the General Assembly, regional and local leaders and the general public for aerospace and defense issues affecting the Ohio economy.

The new council, which is to be supported financially by businesses, private institutions and the state, will be made up of 11 voting members and no more than six non-voting members. At least two of the voting members must be faculty members of a public or private institution of higher education associated with aerospace technology matters.



A July 26 story in the Dayton Daily News reports Governor Taft also plans to create a new senior-level position within the Department of Development to staff the council and serve as the state’s liaison with the two large federal installations.