2016 Issue 8
Develop, Innovate, Prosper
Boeing Celebrates 100th Anniversary, Opening of New Facility
Coinciding with its 100th anniversary celebration, on July 15 Boeing officially opened its 290,000 square-foot facility that will provide 800 new jobs in Oklahoma. Boeing has had a growing presence in the Oklahoma City area for more than 60 years, and the new Global Services & Support (GS&S) facility is the newest addition. The structure, the third on Boeing’s existing campus, will house employees working in engineering, research and development laboratories, and some support staff.
“Not only will this facility grow Boeing’s presence in the state, it is highly likely that Boeing suppliers will want to move closer to supply this facility,” said Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin. “This means higher sales for local suppliers and other small businesses and high-paying jobs for Oklahomans, as well as attracting talent to the state.” The headquarters for GS&S’ Aircraft and Modernization and Sustainment (AM&S) division is moving to Oklahoma City as well. The move involves transferring 12 senior management positions to the new site, including GS&S President Leanne Caret, who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony just last July. “We see a bright horizon for the aircraft sustainment business because of the highly trained and motivated workforce we have in Oklahoma City,” said Caret. “Expanding our presence and bringing AM&S headquarters here continues a trend of combining Oklahoma’s home-grown talent with the best of the enterprise to support some of our customers’ most critical missions.” Boeing has already hired 600 employees in Oklahoma City and will begin moving labs and equipment into the building in the next couple of weeks, according to Michael Emmelhainz, Boeing vice president of Large Aircraft and Engineering Sustainment and the Oklahoma City senior site executive. The new facility will mainly be used to develop ways to prolong the life of existing aircraft, including the B-52. C-17, AWACS and other aircraft. “All the aircraft that we support as they age need to find new capabilities for them - these are the labs that will find those innovative answers,” Emmelhainz said in an interview with KFOR during the grand opening ceremony.
Governor Mary Fallin and Michael Emmelhainz, Boeing vice president at the Grand Opening ceremony.
Oklahoma has a legacy of aerospace innovation and success dating back more than 100 years, with pioneers like Wiley Post, who launched his career of exploring the limits of highaltitude, long-distance flight in our state. Today, more than 500 aerospace companies and organizations operate some of the world’s most successful aerospace companies in Oklahoma, including Boeing, American Airlines, Spirit Aerosystems, NORDAM, and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. With over 7.4% of Oklahoma’s economy attributed to aerospace and defense, the second largest industry sector for the state has been growing and helping to make up for the slowdown in the energy sector. This new growth can be attributed to Oklahoma’s pro-business atmosphere. Now that the labs in Oklahoma City are open, the role of the state is to help support STEM education (science technology engineering and math) to train and educate Oklahoma’s future engineers. STEM education is already on the rise in Oklahoma and has seen a 28% increase in graduates over the last five years. ”Those skills are necessary for companies like Boeing to succeed and continue to grow,” Fallin said.
New Investment Numbers for Oklahoma Total $694 Million p. 3 High Marks for Early Childhood Education p. 4 OSUIT Receives Grant from Haas Foundation p. 7