(U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis)

BRF announces $36.5M in new funding to support AFGSC innovation and tech requirements

BRF today announced $36.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to support Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB) in North Louisiana.

The funding, supported by Louisiana’s congressional delegation and Louisiana economic development organization BRF, will provide resources for AFGSC to use to support its innovation and commercial technology integration requirements.

BRF’s defense mission is to build a regional defense industry cluster in North Louisiana. Since 2020, BRF has worked with the Louisiana congressional delegation to secure $95.5 million in funding to solve key AFGSC technology challenges while enhancing the economic vitality of the region and state.

Air Force Global Strike Command is responsible for all of the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile wings and the Air Force’s entire bomber force, including the B-52, as well as the Long-Range Strike Bomber (B-21) Program; the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) systems; and operational and maintenance support to organizations within the nuclear enterprise.

“Global Strike Command and Barksdale Air Force Base are critical to our nation’s security and critical to the economic vitality of North Louisiana. We thank Louisiana’s congressional delegation for their support of the AFGSC mission, our base and the men and women of the U.S. Air Force,” said BRF President and CEO John F. George Jr., M.D. “With their support in securing these funds, AFGSC is able to modernize and enhance its mission capabilities to meet national strategic needs and operational needs of combatant commanders across the globe.”

Barksdale Air Force Base is the largest employer in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. An invaluable institution in our community, BAFB’s total economic impact in 2022 was over $919.8 million.

About BRF

BRF, headquartered in Shreveport, is an innovation hub and economic development organization establishing North Louisiana as a preferred destination for high-growth initiatives. Diversifying the region’s economy is its mission. It fulfills this mission through initiatives that start new businesses, recruit new businesses and retain current businesses in the region, and through supporting the development of a science and technology-based workforce.

BRF leads seven initiatives in economic development that span business recruitment, the development of a regional defense industry, workforce development and digital media, STEM education, biomedical research and healthcare, entrepreneurial development and startup support, and brownfields development.