The 1st Special Operations Wing escalated its long-running campaign to address Highway 98 traffic congestion Wednesday, taking the issue directly to a member of Congress at a regional military forum focused on protecting Northwest Florida’s defense economy.
- Col. Clayton Schuety, 1st Special Operations Wing deputy commander, joined Rep. Jimmy Patronis and regional defense advocates at the 3rd Annual Tri-County Military Forum at the University of West Florida Convention Center on May 27 to discuss how off-base community challenges are affecting the wing’s ability to generate combat power.
“The Air Force special operations community has deep roots in Northwest Florida,” Schuety said. “I think it’s important for me to come here today to share these challenges with you, because if we can partner for progress against a shared problem, we can truly see the needle move on some of these issues.”
Schuety identified Highway 98 traffic gridlock and the regional housing deficit as the wing’s most immediate strategic vulnerabilities, citing the highway’s impact on operational responsiveness and a housing market that is pricing military families out of the area.
The forum, presented by the Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office and moderated by Santa Rosa County Commissioner Colton Wright, focused on strategies to keep the region competitive as a defense hub.
Patronis, who represents Florida’s 1st Congressional District, used the forum to highlight H. Res. 5886, also known as the “Warrior Road Act.” The bill, which Patronis introduced, aims to prioritize federal budget allocation for projects deemed essential to national security…