DAYTON, OHIO – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Jeff Hoagland, President and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, and Susan Edwards, President of Wright State University, held a press conference at Wright State University’s Student Union to talk about the importance of the eighth annual Ohio Defense and Aerospace Forum.
Congressman Turner worked with the Dayton Development Coalition to establish the Defense Forum in 2016 and has participated in the event every year since. This year’s event was the first to be held in Dayton.
“We tell the story of the importance of innovation and the defense industry and its contributions to Ohio, with the importance of how we all work together to grow it,” said Congressman Mike Turner. “Both its significance to our overall national security, but also jobs, innovation, and technology right here in the back door of our region and Dayton. The governor has been very supportive of this. This has been a statewide-supported effort. We look at the installations across Ohio; we know that the more that we can keep in Ohio will not only be an enhancement to our national security, but also an enhancement to our overall foundation of innovation structure in Ohio.”
“We are fortunate to have Wright-Patterson in our backyard, the state’s largest single-site employer, but we also have assets throughout the state like NASA and others,” said Jeff Hoagland, President and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. “But once again bringing industry together, bringing academia together, Congressman Turner has brought top leaders to this statewide forum. We have speakers that most national forums can’t even get. We are blessed to have this type of talent here, but also to continue the conversation of workforce with the DoD to continue growing the local economy.”
“Wright State University wouldn’t be in the situation it is if it wasn’t for Wright-Patterson,” said Susan Edwards, President of Wright State University. “They gave us the land in which we’re situated, so our relationship has gone on since the 1960s, and we're very fortunate to be able to support the missions that are on the base and continue to supply the emanating workforce of the region. We’re thrilled to have it here, and I'd like to thank Congressman Turner for all the work that he’s done and Jeff Hoagland for their work with the DDC.”
Background:
The Ohio Defense and Aerospace Forum provides an opportunity for defense installation leadership, community leaders, industry representatives, and elected officials to connect, build awareness, and gain a deeper understanding of the current defense environment and the role they play in supporting all facets of national defense.
On Monday, October 30, Congressman Turner moderated a panel titled ‘Ohio’s Role in National Security Intelligence.’ This was Congressman Turner’s first time moderating the Forum's intelligence panel as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
The ‘Ohio’s Role in National Security Intelligence’ panel featured:
- Colonel Ariel Batungbacal, Commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center
- Colonel Marqus Randall, Commander, National Space Intelligence Center
- Colonel Gregg Hesterman, Director of Cyberspace Transformation, Ohio National Guard
On Tuesday, October 31, Congressman Turner moderated the ‘State of National Defense’ panel, which featured:
- Dr. Tim Grayson, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force
- Retired General T. Michael “Buzz” Moseley, 18th Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force
- Retired Lieutenant General Robert McMurry, Executive VP, Dayton Aerospace, Inc.