WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown applauded today’s planned groundbreaking of a fifty-eight thousand square-foot addition to the Foreign Materiel Exploitation (FME) mission at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Brown, who is co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus, worked with key Senate leadership to secure $29.5 million to upgrade the facility. This addition will consolidate operations, creating a secure, modern facility to expedite research on foreign threats.  

“The highly specialized work done by the men and women of NASIC plays a crucial role to ensure our national security,” said Brown. “This addition to the Foreign Materiel Exploitation Laboratory will further strengthen the United States’ technological intelligence and keep Americans safe. I will continue to work to ensure that Wright Patterson remains a hub for science, technology, research, and development.”

Brown has fought to expand NASIC’s mission in Ohio. In December 2013, Brown stressed the importance of upgrading NASIC facilities at Wright-Patterson in a call with Eric Fanning, then-Acting Secretary of the Air Force. In September 2013, Brown pressed Deborah Lee James, then nominee for Secretary of the Air Force, on the importance of expanding NASIC’s capacity at Wright-Patterson. NASIC serves as the preeminent center for research and development on foreign air and space threats to the United States. In February 2013, Brown wrote to then nominee for United States Secretary of State Chuck Hagel, encouraging his support of NASIC, particularly its role in Foreign Materiel Exploitation.

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