Skip navigation
Top navigation skipped
Exhibit 1: Estimated Total Contribution of
Ellington Field to the Texas Economy, 2025
Employment and Other Populations
Texas Military Installations, 2025 Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base
Background
Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base was formed in 1917 in Houston.1 The base serves as NASA Johnson Space Center’s aircraft flight operations center and recently hosted the return of the Artemis II crew back to headquarters.
It is home to the 147th Attack Wing, responsible for overseeing the base’s squadrons which include the following:
- The 111th Attack Squadron operates MQ-9 Reaper drones.
- The 147th Operations Support Squadron provides essential support to these drones and other air support operations.
- The 147th Air Support Operations Squadron manages tactical command and control of airpower assets.
- Communications infrastructure across the western U.S. is maintained by the 272nd Engineering Installation Squadron.
- Additionally, the 147th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ensures the upkeep of MQ-9 Reapers.
- Logistical support for various missions is handled by the 147th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
- The 147th Civil Engineering Squadron not only supports engineering and construction projects but also oversees the base facility plan.
- Security and medical needs are addressed by the 147th Security Forces Squadron and the 147th Medical Group, respectively.
The base's assets include four MQ-9 Reapers, four F-16 Falcons, a Satellite Earth Terminal Subsystem, six Ground Control Stations, and four Ground Data Terminals.
Economic Impact
As of 2025, Ellington Field is home to 1,698 direct employees, including 759 active-duty military personnel. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates the population directly affiliated with Ellington Field contributed at least $1.1 billion to the Texas economy in 2025.2
The Comptroller’s office and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission collected economic data from each of the state’s 14 U.S. military installations. This data was collected using a survey designed to ensure consistency in determining the total direct and indirect contribution of the base’s populations to state-level employment, gross domestic product, output and disposable personal income (Exhibit 1).3
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| Total direct employment4 | 1,698 |
| Total employment (direct & indirect)5 | 5,371 |
| Output6 | $1,180,259,000 |
| Gross domestic product7 | $706,390,000 |
| Disposable personal income8 | $431,563,000 |
Source: Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) – model for Texas
The Comptroller’s economic impact analysis represents a conservative estimate of the importance of Ellington Field to Texas. Each installation’s distinctive characteristics contribute to the Texas economy in different ways. This analysis uses a consistent model to determine the impact of each of the state’s military installations on the state’s economic growth.
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Active-Duty Army | 0 |
| Active-Duty Navy | 0 |
| Active-Duty Air Force | 0 |
| Active-Duty Marine Corps | 48 |
| Active-Duty Coast Guard | 300 |
| Active-Duty National Guard/Reserve | 411 |
| Full-Time Employees Not Listed Elsewhere | 37 |
| FULL-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 189 |
| Non-Appropriated | 9 |
| PART-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Army Reserve | 1,132 |
| Navy Reserve | 1,400 |
| Air Force Reserve | 790 |
| Marine Corps Reserve | 427 |
| Coast Guard Reserve | 83 |
| PART-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 0 |
| Non-Appropriated | 1 |
| OTHER | |
| Contractors, Total (staff) | 281 |
| Average Daily Student Load | 0 |
| TOTALS | |
| Total Direct FTE Employment | 1,698 |
| Number of Dependents | 7,995 |
| Total Indirect FTE Employment | 5,371 |
Source: Ellington Field
End Notes
- NASA; “Ellington Field: A Short History, 1917-1963,” (PDF) (Last visited April 30, 2026)
- This study represents an analysis of the economic impact of the population and employees directly affiliated with the base. This includes active-duty, visiting, and other military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors directly affiliated with the base – as reported in documents emailed from Ellington Field JRB to B. Keith Graf, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, February 2026. ↳
- Estimate inputs and assumptions include the following: (1) all data submitted are for 2025; (2) input includes full-time, permanent employees and a full-time equivalent (FTE) for any part-time employees; (3) dependents are associated with Ellington Field JRB only; (4) all economic impact is within Texas. ↳
- “Total direct employment” refers to both actual full-time and full-time equivalent (FTE) employees plus contractors. A part-time employee’s FTE is calculated based on their hours divided by the standard 40-hour work week. ↳
- “Total employment” refers to both direct and indirect employment, meaning “total direct employment” as noted above plus any indirect employees such as temporary contractors. ↳
- “Output” refers to the total value of all goods and services (both final and intermediate) produced in Texas. Intermediate goods are those used to produce final goods. Sugar, for example, would be an intermediate good when used in the production of candy (final good) by candy companies. ↳
- “Gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas. ↳
- “Disposable personal income” refers to post-income-tax income. ↳