SAIC to expand its operation as part of Wright State-led consortium

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), contingent upon incentive approvals, intends to expand its operations and create new jobs in the Dayton region, the Dayton Development Coalition announced Feb. 28.

The announcement follows an award in December of Air Force contracts of up to $6.4 million to Wright State University and a regional consortium of companies, including SAIC. The contracts are for research designed to improve human performance in dealing with terrorist threats, combat fatigue and other defense issues.

The Wright State Research Institute-led Human Performance Consortium will conduct the five-year research effort, which will support the mission of the 711th Human Performance Wing and the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The consortium was formed to give the Air Force a one-stop shop of expertise, equipment and facilities to help it achieve its human-performance objectives. Consortium members also include Applied Research Associates and the Kettering Health Network.

“Wright State University is proud to be leading a consortium with expertise in human performance that leverages the strengths of the USAF in this area,” said Wright State President David R. Hopkins. “The university is eager to play an increasing role in turning research into technologies that grow businesses and create jobs in our region and within Ohio.”

SAIC plans to consolidate several operations and move them to Beavercreek and Springfield. The consolidated functions will focus on data analytics, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) fabrication and integration, sensor systems development, human sciences research and intelligence analysis.

“Creating an economic model in which a university joins forces with businesses in the region to amplify expertise and offer collective solutions may be the wave of the future in capturing job-producing grants and contracts,” Hopkins said. “This may be the tip of the iceberg, and we’re pleased to be part of it.”

SAIC, a FORTUNE 500^® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company, with more than 43,000 employees, already employs approximately 380 people in the Dayton region. The Dayton office primarily supports a variety of customers at Wright-Patterson.

The Air Force’s focus on UAS research and development was a factor in the company’s decision.

“Due to the prolific growth in demand for UAS technology, coupled with the significant research and development, operation and training challenges to be addressed, SAIC is consolidating many aspects of its UAS business in the Dayton Region—aligning it with the Air Force’s UAS R&D and testing vision to assist in rapid UAS technology transition to the warfighter,” said Dennis Andersh, SAIC senior vice president and Dayton Regional executive. “We are grateful for the leadership of the DDC, which was critical in pulling this project together and turning it into a reality.”

This announcement is a result of months of coordinated efforts.

“This is a great way to begin the year in the Dayton Region and the State of Ohio,” said Jim Leftwich, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton Development Coalition. “The DDC has been working hard to coordinate this project for several months with SAIC and many other federal, state and local partners to bring this win to the region.”
This major expansion was made possible through various incentives including Ohio Third Frontier funding, Job Creation Tax Credits, proposed Targeted Industry Attraction Grant and Ohio Workforce funding.

“Ohio is fortunate to have strong regional economic development partners like the Dayton Development Coalition, helping SAIC bring more than 200 jobs to the area,” said Ohio Department of Development Director, Mark Kvamme. “The region is ripe for growing the unmanned aerial systems and human performance sectors. SAIC will surely benefit from the many assets and competitive advantages offered in this region of the state.”

The consolidation of operations in Dayton enables SAIC to expand its existing capabilities and build a reputation of excellence throughout the region. Through the move, the company will:

• Support the communities movement to establish the National Center for Aerospace and Aeronautics Systems in the Dayton region.
• Support the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors and Human Performance Centers of Excellence.
• Support the migration and transition of technologies from AFRL to the product user centers at Wright-Patterson.

The company’s expansion will include hiring several hundred employees over the next three years. Hiring focus will consist mainly of engineers, scientists, computer programmers and technicians. The move will also increase the amount of work that SAIC subcontracts to business teammates in the Dayton region.

SAIC plans to occupy multiple facilities consolidating its operations in the area to house a UAS integration facility, a new engineering, R&D and data facility and one additional operation. Their analysis resulted in Springfield as a prime candidate for the UAS fabrication facility due to the proximity of Springfield Air National Guard Base.

The City of Beavercreek was identified as a prime candidate for the R&D/engineering facility and other operations due to the proximity of Wright-Patterson and Wright State University, as well as the access to the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center.

Project partners include SAIC, the Ohio Department of Development, Wright State University Research Institute, Greene County, Clark County, the City of Beavercreek, the City of Springfield, the Dayton Development Coalition, and a state and federal delegation including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, U.S. Rep. Steve Austria and state Sen. Chris Widener.

SAIC is making this move as a result of the company’s continuous effort to streamline, standardize and reduce the costs of operations. SAIC will sign off on the project once all incentives and lease terms have been approved and finalized.