The Wright Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio, is managed by Aeronautical Systems Center, the Air Force organization responsible for developing and maintaining aerospace systems. As the hub of aerospace, Wright Patterson is considered one of the most important bases in the Air Force. It is also the site of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Wright Patterson employs approximately 22,000 people, nearly half of which are civilians. That makes it the largest employer in Ohio at a single location, and the fifth largest employer in the state overall. In addition, thousands of students each year are trained at the Air Force Institute of Technology, and more than 1.2 million people visit the Air Force Museum annually.

The Air Force Research Laboratory

The Air Force Research Laboratory employs approximately 9,500 people. They are responsible for executing the Air Force's entire science and technology budget, nearly $1.7 billion. While there are several other Research Laboratories in the US, the one at Wright-Patterson is the largest, incorporating headquarters for five departments: air vehicles, propulsion, sensors, materials and manufacturing, and human effectiveness.

The mission of the human effectiveness directorate is to train pilots in the uses of new technology. To that end, they study ways to facilitate interaction between man and machine, protect personnel from adverse effects of aerospace technology, and maximize their knowledge of biodynamics. As one of the foremost research and development laboratories in the nation, they are proud of their commitment to the safety of their personnel.