security operations, border patrol, construction efforts, drug interdiction, and firefighting. Guardsmen also regularly engage in specialized training missions overseas and with civilian authorities domestically. Tinker Business and Industrial Park A unique asset serving the region’s aerospace firms is the Tinker Business and Industrial Park (TBIP), a sector-specific business park located in Midwest City adjacent to Tinker Air Force Base. The Park was established in 1989 with Boeing as its anchor tenant and now represents the largest concentration of private aerospace firms and technology companies in the region. The Park spans two campuses and is located within minutes of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex at the Base. Tenants represent a cluster of more than 40 firms ranging from private companies, public agencies, tribal entities, universities, laboratories, and education and training providers. Top aerospace and defense contractors such as Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, GE Aviation, Choctaw Defense, and others utilize space at TBIP. TBIP is also home to the Aerospace Collaboration & Partnership Center (ACPC), offering uniquely structured office space to aerospace start-ups, small businesses, or companies with a small Oklahoma footprint. Space is structured for small numbers of employees on a short, medium, or long-term basis at a flat rate per person. TBIP is currently certified as a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) HUBZone due to its location within a qualified Census tract. 11 HUBZone status allows limited competition for certain contracts to businesses in these historically underutilized business zones. It also provides preferential consideration to HUBZone businesses in contracts with full and open competition. This section of the report provides an in-depth analysis of the current aerospace workforce in the Greater Oklahoma City region. The future growth of the aerospace industry hinges on the continuous development of a highly skilled workforce. Additionally, the region’s wage costs, in comparison to competing aerospace markets, play a crucial role in its ability to attract future industry growth. This section includes comparative data on employment and average annual wage rates by detailed occupation, covering both private sector and federal civilian government workers in aerospace-related jobs. Aerospace Employment Comparison. Figures 9 and 10 examine state-level differences in employment and wage rates for key aerospace occupations with varying skill requirements. 11 For more information, see: http://www.tbip.net/about/. A detailed map of SBA HUBZones is available online at: https://maps.certify.sba.gov/ hubzone/map#center=39.828200,-98.579500&zoom=5
Greater OKC Region Aerospace and Aviation - 2025
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