Regional Northwest Florida Military Economic Impact
Consisting of 16 counties, the Northwest Florida Region is home to Tyndall Air Force Base, Naval Support Activity Panama City, Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, Duke Field, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, and Corry Station.
Defense related activities in Northwest Florida were responsible for 186,689 jobs and $21.8 billion in gross regional product, accounting for 28.6% of the region's 2022 total gross product.
The Northwest Florida region provides the largest military economic impact of all eight state regions; providing 22% of the state’s total defense economy.
186,689
Jobs Generated
by Direct Federal
Military Spending
8
Military Installations
$21.8
Billion
in GDP from Defense
Related Activities
NSA Panama City
Tyndall Air Force Base
Hurlburt Field
Air Force Special Operations
1st Special Operations Wing
24th Special Operations Wing
492nd Special Operations Wing
505th Comand and Control Wing
Duke Field
919th Special Operations Wing
NAS Whiting Field
Training Air Wing Five
Corry Field
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Eglin Air Force Base
96th Test Wing
Armament Directorate
53rd Wing
33rd Fighter Wing
AFRL Munitions Directorate
350th Spectrum Warfare Wing
20th Space Control Squadron
6th Ranger Training Battalion
Army 7th Special Forces Group
Navy Explosive Ordinance School
Okaloosa
9.2 Billion in Economic Impact
Eglin Air Force BaseEglin Air Force Base is the largest Air Force Base in the U.S. supporting 9 Wings/Wing Equivalents and 35 associated units for 5 major commands; with the 96th Test Wing as the host unit. Eglin is an Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) installation serving as the focal point for all Air Force armaments. Eglin is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, deployment and sustainment of all air- delivered non-nuclear weapons.
Hurlburt FieldHurlburt Field accommodates the 1st Special Operations Wing and is home to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Headquarters and a number of associate units within five major commands. The mission at the base is centered on the training and execution of worldwide aviation special operations.
Santa Rosa
1.6 Billion in Economic Impact
Naval Air Station Whiting FieldNAS Whiting Field is home to the largest air wing in the U.S. Navy and produces 100% of all Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard helicopter pilots. Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field hosts 21 tenant activities, including Training Air Wing FIVE. The base's mission is to create the military's best-trained "Aviation Warfighter" and support all the armed forces relying on it.
Top Defense-Related Contract Industries
Aerospace (28%)
Architectural & Engineering (12%)
Computer System Design (5%)
Scientific Research (5%)
Eight of the Nation’s Top 10 private sector defense contractors have a presence in Okaloosa County
A total of $1,920,721,744 was awarded in Okaloosa County in FY2023. With nearly 5,000 contract awards in 2023, Okaloosa County supports over 50% of all defense contract awards within the northwest Florida region. The Northwest Florida regions provides the highest concentration of defense contracting jobs of all eight state regions.
Additionally, while Florida ranked #4 in the nation in 2023 for total defense spending and total defense personnel spending, Okaloosa County ranked #1 in Florida for total defense personnel spending—measured at $2.2 Billion.