Unique Dayton Pitch Event to Bring Business, Air Force Together

Many revolutionary ideas are being created by startup companies. In order to capture these ideas, the U.S. Air Force is seeking more collaboration with small businesses toward national security challenges.

One of these ways is through its Air Force pitch days, which brings the two groups together.  Among those is a two-day event in Dayton with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

JobsOhio and the Dayton Development Coalition are partnering with the center to help connect industry, venture capital and the U.S. Air Force. 

On Nov. 13 and 14, the center is holding a pitch day centered around four key areas: 

• Fighters/bomber: Seeking ideas for cyber-related commercial innovations to improve its fighter/bomber portfolio of aircraft;
• Mobility and training aircraft: Seeking Ideas for maintenance and manufacturing technologies for aircraft including digital technologies;
• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and special forces: Seeking Ideas to explore innovative technologies and/or processes that could impact ISR systems and SOF operations
• Airborne communications: Seeking ideas for improving communication systems, protecting intellectual property and introducing additive manufacturing into current sustainment efforts.

Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry, commander of the Life Cycle Management Center, discussed pitch days at the 2019 Ohio Defense Forum held in early October in Columbus. 

“We are trying many, many different ways to look at how we can do more small business interaction,” McMurry said. “I think our engagement with industry is positive … and it’s gotten more collaborative over the years.”

J.P. Nauseef, president and chief investment officer of JobsOhio, said pitch days really connect industry and the Air Force together for continued cutting-edge technologies.

“As JobsOhio just approved its new strategy adding federal and military installations as a major sector to focus on, we are excited to partner with the Life Cycle Management Center and the Dayton Development Coalition,” Nauseef said.

Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, said working with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is yet another opportunity to showcase the Dayton region and state of Ohio.

“Wright-Patt is the state’s largest single site employer and continues to grow because of events like Life Cycle Industry Days, various AFRL events, and now the first pitch days in the state of Ohio.”

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is the single center responsible for total life cycle management covering all aircraft, engines, munitions and electronic systems.