Third Annual Tri-County Military Forum Set for Wednesday at UWF

Escambia County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Northwest Florida's military community is coming together Wednesday for the third annual Tri-County Military Forum at UWF — and Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Colten Wright says the event is designed to help the public understand just how much the region's military installations mean to the local economy and national defense.

The forum is hosted by the Northwest Florida Defense Coalition and Santa Rosa County's Economic Development Office. Wright will emcee the event for the third consecutive year.

The lineup is significant. Congressman Jimmy Patronis will appear alongside Mike Cooper from Leonardo Aerospace to discuss aerospace innovation and economic development in the region. Commanding officers from all three major local installations will also participate — Captain Chandra Newman from NAS Pensacola, Captain Ted Elkins from NAS Whiting Field, and Colonel Clayton Schutte, deputy commander at Hurlburt Field.

Topics will include installation priorities, workforce alignment, defense procurement access, and the landscape affecting military investment in Northwest Florida. Wright says the goal is to build win-win opportunities between the Air Force, Navy, and the surrounding communities — and to correct what he calls a widespread misconception about what each installation actually does and contributes.

The economic stakes are significant. Military activity in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties generates 8.3 billion dollars in regional economic impact — accounting for more than 52 percent of the local economy. NAS Pensacola alone supports 126 tenant commands employing more than 16,000 military personnel and 74-hundred civilian employees. NAS Whiting Field is the busiest naval air station in the world.

Seats are still available — registration is open online.