Sen. Portman visits Wright-Patterson during ‘Results Tour’

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as part of his Results Tour, where he met with the officers overseeing the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator Organization and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC).

NASIC is using World War II-era facilities on base and temporary structures. The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act authorized $182 million for modernization.

Funding would be used to add the infrastructure needed to meet the demands of the growing workforce and to upgrade information technology facilities.

“Today, I saw the future location for NASIC’s most recent military construction project for their Foreign Military Exploitation mission, as well as some of the groundbreaking analysis they are doing to keep our skies and our country safe from foreign threats,” Portman said. “NASIC plays a critical role in helping the leadership of our country understand foreign threats to U.S. air and space operations and deserves modern facilities befitting of its work.”

In fiscal year 2019, Congress appropriated the first of three $61 million installments. The White House’s fiscal year 2020 budget requested $120.9 million in full. While the House authorized the full amount, the Senate authorized only $74 million.

Portman is working to secure full amount as the Senate lead in helping secure funding to modernize NASIC’s overcrowded and outdated campus facilities to meet the demands of today’s missions