Regional Military Impact
Consisting of 16 counties and multiple installations, 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, Corry Station and Saufley Field.
Defense related activities in Northwest Florida were responsible for 186,689 jobs and nearly $21.8 billion in gross regional product (GRP), accounting for 28.6% of the region's 2022 total gross product. The vast majority of these economic impacts were generated by direct federal military spending which produced 176,703 jobs and roughly $20.3 billion of GRP, followed by the National Guard and Coast Guard who were responsible for 8,718 jobs and 1,268 jobs, respectively.
The Northwest Florida region provides the largest military economic impact of all eight state regions.
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 Base
Encompassing 724 square miles, Eglin Air Force Base is the largest military base in the U.S. and home to the 96th Test Wing and various other units. The 96th Test Wing executes Air Force munitions' developmental test and evaluation, enabling the warfighter to put weapons on target in all battlespace media while also providing support for all other Team Eglin missions as the host wing.
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field accommodates the 1st Special Operations Wing, and is home to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Headquarters and a number of associate units. The mission at the base is centered around the training and execution of worldwide aviation special operations.
Santa Rosa
1.6 Billion in Economic Impact
Naval Air Station Whiting Field
Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field operates 56% of the Navy's outlying landing fields, and 17% of all U.S. Navy flight hours are flown out of NAS Whiting. The base's mission is to create the military's best-trained "Aviation Warfighter" and support all the armed forces relying on it.
The installation hosts 21 tenant activities, including Training Air Wing FIVE, which produces more than 1,200 pilots a year. NAS 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.
Top Defense-Related Contract Industries
Aerospace (28%)
Architectural & Engineering (12%)
Computer System Design (5%)