Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located near Dayton, Ohio, is a massive and profoundly important installation that serves as the cradle-to-grave center for nearly all Air Force weapon systems. Steeped in history at the very site where the Wright Brothers perfected powered flight, the base is the headquarters for Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), the command responsible for providing the research, development, acquisition, and sustainment that keeps the U.S. Air Force and Space Force dominant.

The base is a city in itself, home to a vast and diverse set of missions. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) is headquartered here, managing the entire lifecycle of Air Force aircraft and weapon systems from inception to retirement. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), also headquartered at Wright-Patt, is the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center, pioneering future technologies. Furthermore, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) provides critical intelligence on foreign air and space threats, informing national policy and defense strategy.

Education is also a cornerstone of the base’s identity. The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is the Air Force’s graduate school of engineering and management, educating future leaders in technical fields. The host unit, the 88th Air Base Wing, is one of the largest and most complex in the Air Force, providing installation support and services for this massive enterprise, which also includes a major medical center and even a U.S. Navy medical research unit.

Personnel and families stationed at Wright-Patterson are part of a community with deep ties to aviation heritage and innovation. The Dayton region offers a friendly, Midwestern quality of life with a reasonable cost of living and numerous amenities. The intellectual capital and strategic importance of Wright-Patterson AFB make it one of the most consequential installations in the Department of Defense.