Wright-Patt Heritage Inspires Medical Innovation for the Future
Author: Bert Cream
June 2007
In 2005, Congress approved the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) which included the relocation of the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the Air Force Institute of Operational Health, the Human Systems Development and Acquisition function, the Human Effectiveness Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Naval Aeromedical Research Laboratory from San Antonio, Texas, Mesa, Arizona, and Pensacola, Florida to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH. When these moves are completed in September 2011, these additions to our Wright-Patterson and regional community holds the promise of creating a wholly unique center of excellence in human performance, making our region a national and international center for military, civilian aviation and national defense. The intellectual, economic, and cultural impact on the Dayton region is expected to be significant.
In many ways, history is repeating itself. Aeromedical and Human Performance research has deep roots at Wright-Patterson. In 1934, Malcolm C. Grow, Surgeon General of the US Army Air Force, selected a young flight surgeon Harry G. Armstrong, to create the Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. His unique concept was that high-altitude combat flight being made possible by engineering research at Wright Field (now Wright- Patterson AFB), required parallel research on the physiological problems of high altitude confronting the crew of such aircraft. Over time, aeromedical research and training became focused at Brooks Air Force Base, while Wright-Patterson focused on human system technology development, transition, and integration linked to the warfighter.
The BRAC concept of establishing a Center of Excellence at Wright-Patterson is in recognition of that heritage and that the Dayton region provides a unique integration and co-location of military and civilian technology developers, medical researchers, warfighters, the business community, the academic community, supporting agencies, and military logistics and acquisition expertise. The excellence of these professionals is internationally known. In fact, much of the biomedical technology found in common use today was first developed and demonstrated by these organizations. Placing critical elements of the medical and human effectiveness research, development, and acquisition (RD&A) community together recognizes that while facilities are critical, it is the intellectual synergy of like-minded researchers that produces innovation. Ideas are often multidisciplinary in nature, and require cross-functional specialties and facilities to be actualized.
The superb research infrastructure and real property of Wright-Patterson and the Dayton community provide substantial growth opportunity, a demonstrated capacity to support requirements, and highly experienced and demonstrated capabilities. The existing relationship with local and state medical and academic agencies includes world-class research facilities with extensive and secure area communications, and high-speed computational and information technologies. These infrastructure assets provide revolutionary ways for conducting research in Human Effectiveness, bioinformatics, biotechnology, DNA mapping and a host of other applications. These resources evidence the regions rich technology base and can enhance the motivation and productivity of personnel.
The Dayton Development Coalition provides organizational conduit focuses the energy and enthusiasm of partners contributing their leadership and organizational resources to the Wright-Patterson military community with focused energy to help facilitate the movement of in-bound AF and Navy missions and staffs. One initiative has been the creation of a Medical Task Force. Coalition members include the regional medical, business, and academic communities who have committed energy, enthusiasm, and resources to help make the decision to relocate to our community a positive act for families and a professionally rewarding for civilian and military personnel through sponsored initiatives to capture opportunities and address challenges generated by planned movement of organizations and personnel to Dayton.
The community is excited and energized regarding opportunities to support the newest members of our military and business community. With the continued interest and support of Coalition activities by senior Air Force leadership, the outreach activities will help focus regional efforts to ensure successful stand-up and operation of the inbound military missions to WPAFB.
If you would like more information on the topics mentioned in this article or are interested in joining the Medical Task Force, please contact Bert Cream, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Medical Task Force Initiatives:
Providing Dayton Region industry partners insight to the skills and capabilities needed by the aerospace medicine missions and to link industry partners to the missions, ensuring they are fully supported upon arrival at Wright-Patterson AFB
- Identifying mission related collaboration opportunities between the Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), industry and academia, and facilitating temporary use of existing and appropriate partner facilities to allow research to continue between shutdown of existing facilities and stand-up and operation of new military facilities
- Conducting outreach activities to the Air Force personnel transitioning to WPAFB under BRAC and maintaining a partnership with the Miami Valley Human Resource Association (MVHRA) to encouraging AF personnel and their families to transfer to Wright-Patterson
