The center is uniquely positioned to benefit from its location to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. WPAFB is the metro and State's largest employer, with over 29,000 active duty, reserves, and civilian employees, which provides a certain degree of stability and helps to fuel investment. The base continues to expand and award substantial contracts to area companies over the past year. The Defense Department recently designated WPAFB as the primary site for the F35 Lightning II Hybrid Support Integrator Organization. This costly program will generate 440 new high-paying jobs this year, in addition to new and/or expanded contracts with local defense companies. Also on the base, the construction of the $182 million Intelligence Production Complex will boost construction payrolls.