COLUMBUS — State Rep. Mark Hiner is throwing his support behind an effort to bring a proposed U.S. Space Force Academy to Ohio, joining fellow House Republicans in urging Gov. Mike DeWine to back the bid.
Hiner, a Republican from Howard, recently signed a letter to DeWine expressing support for Ohio being named the future home of the proposed academy, with Dayton positioned as the leading candidate site. The letter was circulated among House Republicans as Ohio competes with other states for the prestigious military installation.
Dayton’s pitch leans heavily on the region’s deep aerospace roots. The Miami Valley is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, one of the largest Air Force installations in the country, along with the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and a dense network of defense contractors and research institutions.
Supporters argue that co-locating a Space Force Academy near Wright-Patterson would give cadets unmatched access to existing Air Force research, testing and educational infrastructure, while delivering a major economic boost to the Dayton region.
Landing a new military academy would be a significant win for Ohio, bringing construction jobs, permanent personnel and long-term federal investment to the state.
The proposal is still in its early stages, and no site selection timeline has been announced. DeWine has not yet publicly responded to the lawmakers’ letter.
