DeWine forms steering group in bid for Space Academy | NASA has published a Request for Information seeking input from governors or their designees interested in hosting and sponsoring the proposed academy in their state.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced today that he is forming a steering group to work on Ohio’s application to be the future home of the U.S. Space Academy.
NASA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from governors or their designees interested in hosting and sponsoring the proposed academy in their state. The RFI is due by 6 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 26.
Criteria to be considered include infrastructure, partnerships, community support and backing for the vision of a United States Space Academy to develop an elite caliber of students who will become the nation’s future space leaders.
Formation of the steering group ensures Ohio’s effort is coordinated and reinforces the state’s unique advantages in national security and space astronautics, making it an ideal location for the proposed academy.
“A Space Academy is essential to our nation’s preeminence in air and space – and Ohio is not only the birthplace of aviation – we continue to be on the leading edge of aerospace and defense,” said DeWine.
“Because of their leadership role in air and space and their critical proximity, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center make Ohio the ideal location for the U.S. Space Academy. These unique sites, along with Ohio’s educational and workforce assets, have the ‘right stuff’ to bolster space research and development, space intelligence, space education, as well as protect our national security interests,” DeWine said.
The Ohio governor has named 11 to the steering group, which will be chaired by Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik.
Members of the steering group will include:
- Chair Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.
- Vice Chair Mike Duffey, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
- J.P. Nauseef, CEO of Jobs Ohio.
- Matt Dolan, CEO of Team NEO.
- Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition.
- Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles, adviser to Jobs Ohio and Gov. Mike 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. Mike DeWine.
- Meghan Wadsworth, assistant policy director, Office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
- John Horack, vice president for research, The Ohio State University.
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