Thomas Wells, director of the 711th, said he expects about 150 jobs to be transferred to Wright-Patterson by this fall, some of which will become vacant positions if their current civilian occupants have decided not to relocate. That means the Air Force will hire locally to fill them, Wells said.
Construction of the multi-building Human Performance Wing complex that will house aerospace medical research programs is three months ahead of schedule, meaning the 711th can move in March 1, 2011 instead of late May 2011, Wells said. That will allow more time in a tight schedule for transferring people and programs, he said.
Temporary modular offices on the base are now ready for use. Other modular units in the Kettering Business Park should be ready July 1, Wells said.
Butt Construction Co., of Dayton, and partner Archer Western Contractors Ltd., part of the Chicago-based Walsh Group, is building the Human Performance Wing complex, a $194.5 million project. It is the biggest piece of $332 million in construction to accommodate the incoming programs. The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, being moved from Brooks-City Base in San Antonio, will ultimately bring about 650 people and attract 5,000 students for visits each year, including officers of foreign militaries who are training to become surgeon generals.
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s sensors directorate is moving two parts of its operations, from Rome, N.Y., and Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., to be united with similar operations at Wright-Patterson. The expansion and renovation of the sensors directorate building at Wright-Patt should be completed in April 2011, said David Jerome, director of the directorate.
Ultimately, Wright-Patterson will see a net gain of more than 1,100 jobs because of the relocations, which must be done by Sept. 15, 2011.
“They’ll be buying homes in the community, they’ll be shopping at The Greene or downtown, they’ll be going to the Schuster Center,” Jerome said. “They’ll be contributors to the community.”
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