The Flight Pattern between NAAMCE and Paris, France
The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence built at the Springfield airport. And to celebrate, a city government trip to Paris.
8 min read
Heck and His UnMerry Men Just Couldn't Let it be Free
Wikipedia sums up the history of how the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence came to be: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Advanced_Air_Mobility_Center_of_Excellence
An inclusive company called Marker developed it. The City seems to only outsource to companies touting inclusivity, because that's what you want in your developers, contractors, consultants. Diversity. Really, the FAA gave them money, so I'm sure it was in the requirements. And because Springfield still prostitutes itself at every turn for the federal welfare, it's still one of their biggest criteria in the companies they do business with.
There's not much of a mention or sighting of Tom Franzen online. He's just a ghost. But he loves to play with airplanes apparently, and he was heavily involved in this with Greater Springfield Partnership McDorman.
One Version of the Money
The JobsOhio Jan 2025 article reports it as a $10 million project and a $1.1 million commitment from the City. But those numbers don’t match the actual costs. Mike Turner’s page in 2022 says he did secure $10 million from the Feds (no mention of JobsOhio), so……
In September 2023, the SNS said: The center is a $9.35 million project that includes a $6 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, $2.9 million grant from JobsOhio and $450,000 commitment from the city of Springfield.
In the March 2024, Commission meeting, the City Commission approved its actual (who knows – they change numbers like they change clothes) final cost of $9,102,818. (There was a change order of $390K in there somewhere – can’t remember if more or less.) So the $6 million from the DoD, $2.9 million from JobsOhio leaves a $200K balance. In a March 2024 SNS article, Franzen said the City paid $500K.
I remember that the State came in and paid the City’s balance. BUT maybe that was for the runway project?
Another Version of The Money
This article (PDF) in September 2023 says that the center is a $9.35 million project that includes a $6 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, $2.9 million grant from JobsOhio and $450,000 commitment from the city of Springfield. News Sun article link: https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/business/springfield-takes-center-stage-with-aerospace-events-this-week/RBH5LEO7V5F4HFLEB7L5WMKJKY/
This article in March 2024 says that the city approved the total cost of $9,102,818. 95% DoD, 5% City. But then JobsOhio, the multi-billion dollar Ohio "nonprofit" (a whole 'nother story of in-your-face corruption), came in and paid the City's 5% portion, so it was FREE to the City. (You know that thinking. Nobody dependent on government money considers that government money isn't actually free.)
This article in Jan 2025 says that the City of Springfield contributed $1 million, but apparently "the state" (JobsOhio) came in and paid it all in 2025.
All that to say that every article between 2022 groundbreaking and 2025 approving the final costs and hiring a JobsOhio Director reports varying numbers of who contributed what. Regardless, DoD, JobsOhio, the State, and the City (even if the State paid their share).
This is how Springfield does things. Numbers aren't meant to be exact. It's only other people's money.
National Advanced Air Mobility Center: Springfield OKs final costs for its share of $9.1 project
National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence to open in Springfield
So to celebrate, Heck gathered his buddies for a trip to Paris. France! They refer to it as "a delegation" (definition = a group of representatives) and in the December 2, 2025, Commission meeting, Rue said "staff members" went), so more than 3 or 4. We'll go with 5-6? So, if we multiply his $5,170 bill by 5 or 6, that's $25,850-$31,020. Plus their salaries for 5 days (June 19-23, 2023, was a Monday through Friday). A person earning $200,000 a year earns approximately $3,846.15 per week. Multiply $3,846 X 5 or 6, that's $19,230 - $23,076.
For a grand total of $45,080 - 54,096. For them to spend a nice June week in Paris. For an airshow. That's relative.
And when Heck got back, he even approved his own T&E report. See image below.
Hotel = 2, 180
Mileage = 65.37 (I think he opted for this instead of the $150 Uber?
Air = 1,570.73
Meals = 984 (164 a day allotment, so go big or go home)
Ubers = 150 (just added his 3, assuming others had about the same)
Airshow Badge = 221
Heck's total = 5,171.10
Update November 2025: How's the NAAMCE going? The 2026 City Commissioners' Retreat is going to be there, so built by them for them, as usual. Nothing to see here. Either. To be fair, there are articles about vertical flight and meetings and men shaking hands and things, but it all seems to be about things to come. Lots of that around here. Data centers. Jobs. All things to come.
Update December 2025: Apparently, this Paris trip to an airshow isn't the first. The year before Heck and Franzen and wives went to an airshow in London. Request for receipts made.
Facebook Post
I posted this on Facebook after Rue tried to defend the Paris trip. Just better organized chronologically.
Big fancy building where they (rumor has it) store the new Tesla. It’s for groups looking for airspace to test drones and the upward mobility air vehicles. Ohio is all over this like data centers, because you know, billions in revenue to come (maybe by 2051?) and jobs jobs jobs that we never see. So far, it's a playground for grown men that the entire country paid for.
Rue incorrectly stated that the Paris trip was irrelevant because of the $9 million return on investment that the city has seen from the NAAMCE. But ground broke in 2022 and $9 million was SPENT on it long before Paris. Paris was the celebration.
The center is a $9.35 million project that includes a $6 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, $2.9 million grant from JobsOhio and $450,000 commitment from the city of Springfield. The state came in and paid the City’s part.
August 23, 2022: Groundbreaking ceremony
An "inclusive" (needed for federal funds at the time, but Springfield is still on the bandwagon for the possible $) company called Marker developed it.
Paris trip June 19-25, 2023 (kids out of school, who wouldn’t love to celebrate the win in Paris in June!)
Ribbon cutting: September 14, 2023
Not finished, but move-in ready in October 2023.
March 2024 article says they have 12 occupants.
March 2024, the city approved the total cost of $9,102,818. ($390K in change orders.)
In January 2025, JobsOhio announced that they had appointed their Ted Angel as the NAAMCE Executive Director. I think he's a JobsOhio employee, not a City employee. Either way, he's paid with OUR money.
This week, the City posted on their FB page, that "Taxiway C was closed because its pavement no longer met FAA safety standards. Thanks to a nearly $1.8 million Airport Improvement Project, Taxiway C is almost ready for action. Even better — 95% of the funding came from the Federal Aviation Administration, with the remaining 5% will be covered by the Ohio Department of Transportation."
Where will they go to celebrate this!!??
But make no mistake, nothing about the airport is self-sufficient. It is built and maintained using federal and state funds. Dependence is the opposite of independent. Sure, there's always their campaign promises and gov't contracts (also not self-sufficiency), but....
Articles below.
The first article quotes Franzen speaking about “the delegation” that went to Paris. On December 2nd, Rue referred to “staff members” going on the trip. I have only seen evidence of Heck and Franzen and wives, but obviously there were more (I imagine Partnership McDorman went).
Springfield Takes Center Stage with Aerospace Events
Springfield Approves Final Costs for NAAMCE
NAAMCE was made a Nonprofit in December 2025
Buried in the 2026 Preliminary Budget Finance Director Eviston presented to the Commission on December 2, 2025, is a City Manager section. On page 28 is a NAAMCE page. On the second page, in a lone paragraph on the page, it states, "In 2025, the NAAMCE non-profit corporation was created and JobsOhio (also a nonprofit with a multi-billion annual revenue stream) Executive Director was hired to lead efforts associated with the NAAMCE's goals and objectives. JobsOhio provides funding support for this entity and position.
So now they get to hide all their salaries, bonuses, expenses, toys, everything. There are no public records here anymore. I know this was a bigger plan, but the timing feels like retaliation for citizens calling out Heck and Franzen for the Paris trip. They knew they wouldn't have to account to citizens anymore and within the month.
Also buried on the NAAMCE's LinkedIn account (with 162 followers and 39 reactions) is an announcement that it is now a 501(c)(6). Buried in a Merry Christmas post. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/naamce_aam-uas-evtol-activity-7409247720797790208-PXNn
Note: A 501(c)(6) is a U.S. IRS tax-exempt status for "business leagues," such as chambers of commerce, real estate boards, and trade associations, that promote common business interests for members, not for profit. These organizations improve business conditions for their industry, not by directly serving individual members, and can engage in lobbying, though members must be notified if dues cover political activities, and donations aren't tax-deductible for donors (unlike 501(c)(3)s).
AI says:
NAAMCE (National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence) is a collaborative research and development center focused on advanced air mobility (AAM) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). While the facility is owned by the City of Springfield, Ohio, it functions as a central hub for a nonprofit trade organization ecosystem designed to advance aerospace innovation.
NAAMCE (National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence) isn't a typical nonprofit but a crucial research/collaboration center in Springfield, Ohio, for next-gen aviation (eVTOLs, drones) involving USAF, NASA, industry, and schools, acting as a hub for developing future air travel, with the Advanced Air Mobility Institute, Inc. as the nonprofit entity supporting its mission for public benefit. NAAMCE provides space, testing, and collaboration for electric aircraft tech, while the Institute promotes ethical development and access to these technologies globally.
Regardless, WE will still pay the water and utilities bills.
The City Manager and Assistant City Manager couldn't even give a shit about posting vacation pics on Facebook. We paid for it, I guess they think we would want to see them.