Government leaders gathered in Wichita, Kansas on Monday to attend the 40th anniversary celebration for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), and to witness the ribbon cutting for the new Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Research (HAMR) located on the WSU campus.
In attendance was U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy who was accompanied by U.S. Senator from Kansas and long time supporter of aviation legislation, Jerry Moran, as well as other university officials and community leaders.
The event highlighted the impact the region and NIAR have had in pushing the aerospace industry forward over the years and expressed optimism that Wichita will continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of aviation.
Great to be in Kansas touring @Textron, @Boeing, and @NIARWSU with my friend, Senator @JerryMoran.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) December 16, 2025
I’m proud to see the state of Kansas leading the charge in the future of aviation✈️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CbmF6ZMMRY
“From eVTOLs, the Ubers in the air… to drones… to new designs, new materials, which is what you all are working on right here… it’s going to change the way we actually use the air and fly in this country,” Duffy said during a press conference at the event.
Expected to fully open in early 2026, the HAMR facility will be the largest additive manufacturing research center in the world, according to officials. Work at the facility will focus on automation, materials research, defense modernization and applied innovation.
The $62 million project, which will feature a 170,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, was partially funded by a 2022 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant the South Kansas region received as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC).
Duffy made his stop at the ribbon cutting as part of his Kansas tour, where he visited Textron Aviation and Boeing facilities in the state.
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