DeWine assembles team to pursue hosting the proposed U.S. Space Academy

Governor Mike DeWine announced a formal, coordinated effort: an 11-member steering group that will assemble the state's application and supporting materials. The group will be chaired by Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.

DeWine framed Ohio's bid around existing aerospace and defense assets. He cited the state as "the birthplace of aviation" and highlighted proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and NASA Glenn Research Center. The governor said those sites, combined with Ohio's education and workforce assets, make the state an ideal location to support space research, development, intelligence and education while protecting national security interests.

The RFI lists criteria that states should address, including:

• Infrastructure and site readiness.
• Partnerships with federal, academic, industry and community stakeholders.
• Community support and commitments to the academy's vision.

Those elements will shape how Ohio's steering group crafts its response and demonstrates readiness to host an academy that aims to develop future space leaders.

The governor named 11 participants. Key members include:

• Lydia Mihalik, chair, Director, Ohio Department of Development
• Mike Duffey, vice chair, Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education
• J.P. Nauseef, CEO, JobsOhio
• Matt Dolan, CEO, Team NEO
• Jeff Hoagland, President & CEO, Dayton Development Coalition
• Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles, adviser to JobsOhio and Gov. DeWine
• Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. JT Thompson
• Jim Free, retired NASA senior civilian
• Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Joe Zeis, aerospace and defense adviser to Gov. DeWine
• Meghan Wadsworth, Assistant Policy Director, Office of Gov. Mike DeWine
• John Horack, Vice President for Research, The Ohio State University

• How the steering group documents site readiness at Wright-Patterson and other candidate locations.

• Whether other states submit competing RFI responses and how Ohio's assets compare.

Ohio is making a structured push to host the proposed U.S. Space Academy, leveraging military and NASA facilities around Dayton, statewide education and workforce assets, and a newly formed state steering group to produce the RFI response due Oct. 26.