Thomas Gnau: A century of aerospace and defense growth places Dayton near the top in new ranking
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Long before Dayton was ranked among the nation's best places for aerospace and defense manufacturing, the region spent decades building the ingredients for that success - military research, engineering talent, advanced manufacturing and a network of companies drawn to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Now, a new national site-selection study says that ecosystem has made Dayton the third-strongest city in America for defense and aerospace manufacturing.
Dayton's strengths are "driven by its world-class engineering talent, defense research assets, advanced manufacturing base, and decades-long role supporting military innovation," said South Carolina-based Global Location Strategies in the company's inaugural "2026 Best Places for Aerospace & Defense Insights Report."
In an interview before the report was released, Didi Caldwell, founder and chief executive of Global Location Strategies, said the region has an array of strengths that are tough to match, with the presence of Air Force planners and decision-makers at Wright-Patterson Air Base, a cadre of contractors and manufacturers drawn to that Air Force presence, as well as universities like the University of Dayton and Wright State University.
"An ecosystem like that didn't happen overnight," Caldwell said. "It's taken almost a century to create."
The report comes days after CBNC listed Ohio as the top place to do business in 2026,
Dayton is among the leading centers for aircraft manufacturing and aerospace production, with the company listing Dayton with metro areas such as Seattle, St. Louis and Dallas Fort-Worth.
The company listed Huntsville, Ala. as No. 2 on its list, with Wichita, Kansas leading the way.
"The metro's aerospace and defense identity is anchored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, one of the most significant Air Force installations in the United States and home to major research, acquisition, logistics, and sustainment functions," the report states. "This foundation has helped establish a uniquely deep concentration of aerospace engineers, scientists, technical professionals, and defense contractors throughout the region."
"The region's main strengths are its skilled workforce and strong focus on innovation," the report added. "Groups like the Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Dayton Research Institute help drive a thriving research and development community."
The firm approached the question as a "real site selection project," Caldwell said. The company zeroed in on what defense manufacturers want when considering a new location - institutions that support worker training, universities turning out engineering talent, institutions to hire and nurture that talent, as well as "competitive manufacturing costs."
"With aerospace and defense, it's really about the workforce and the ecosystem," she said.
The Dayton area boasts a supportive ecosystem - a cluster of institutions and supporting assets, like engineering schools, she said.
"Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a really good example of something that creates an ecosystem, but it's not the only thing there," she said.
Wright-Patterson is where Air Force Materiel Command, which manages more than a third of the total Air Force budget, is headquartered.
Nationally, the report found that announced U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturing investment has more than doubled since 2022, while project announcements have nearly tripled.
The complete 2026 GLS Best Places for Aerospace & Defense Insights Report, including metro-level rankings and regional analysis, is available at: www.globallocationstrategies.com/reports
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