Ohio Forms Group to Bid for Space Academy
Governor Mike DeWine named eleven experts to a steering group preparing the state's application to host the U.S. Space Academy.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Do you support Ohio pursuing the U.S. Space Academy to bring jobs to your community?
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine formed a steering group to work on the state's application to host the U.S. Space Academy. The group, which DeWine said will move quickly, was formed after NASA published a Request for Information seeking input from governors or their designees on hosting the academy.
Why it matters
The steering group is intended to coordinate Ohio's effort and reinforce the state's advantages in national security and space astronautics. Ohio's bid would draw on existing federal and research assets located within the state.
The state named eleven experts to the steering group, which is chaired by Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, with Mike Duffey serving as vice chair. The federal RFI response is due at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, and it is not yet clear how the selection criteria will be weighted.
The players
Mike DeWine
Mike DeWine is the Governor of Ohio, who formed the steering group to prepare the state's bid for the U.S. Space Academy.
NASA
NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the federal agency that published the Request for Information on hosting the U.S. Space Academy.
The details
The steering group includes John Horack, vice president for research at The Ohio State University. NASA's Request for Information names infrastructure, partnerships, community support and support for the academy's vision as selection criteria, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and NASA Glenn Research Center are both located in Ohio.
Timeline
Monday, Oct. 26: Deadline for response to the federal Request for Information
Roadmap
Ohio's bid builds on the presence of NASA Glenn Research Center and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which already anchor the state's aerospace and national security work. The effort positions Ohio to compete with other states for a federal space training institution.
Residents interested in the bid can track the state's submission through official Ohio government announcements. The outcome could bring a federal training institution and related jobs and programs to the state.
The takeaway
Ohio's rapid formation of a steering group signals how seriously states are treating the competition to host federal space programs. Watch for the state's RFI submission to see how it addresses infrastructure and community support.
What happens next
Federal Request for Information responses are due at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Space section for context on NASA programs and federal space initiatives.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tribune.
Live Poll
Do you support Ohio pursuing the U.S. Space Academy to bring jobs to your community?
