A trip this week to Dayton by NASA Glenn Research Centers director will lead to improving partnerships between the space agency and aerospace-related companies and universities in the region, experts said.

Those partnerships will help create a workforce pipeline for the agency, according to NASA Glenn director James Free.

The John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is one of 10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Centers in the U.S. The center researches, designs, develops and tests technology for aeronautics and spaceflight. NASA Glenn employs more than 3,400 civil servants and contractors, and has a $1.3 billion annual economic impact in Ohio

The science and technology center has tremendous overlap with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, with which it has shared some programs over the years, Free said.

My intention is to further that partnership, Free said Friday at the University of Dayton Research Institute at 1700 S. Patterson Blvd. in Dayton.

NASA Glenn and AFRL represent Ohios two largest federal aerospace research and development facilities.

Free said there are additional collaboration opportunities with AFRL related to NASA Glenns missions in aircraft, spaceflight and sensors research.

Strengthening the connection between NASA Glenn and AFRL will make sure that Ohio stands out front when it comes to aerospace and aviation, said State Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, co-chairman of the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee.

Perales said the two research centers have launched a personnel exchange, with a NASA Glenn researcher now working permanently at AFRL, and vice-versa.

On Thursday and Friday, Free visited area aerospace technology companies that included SelectTech GeoSpatial in Springfield, UES Inc. in Beavercreek and GoHypersonic Inc. in Dayton.

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NASA Glenn seeks partnerships with Dayton region