Col. Brant A. Putnam

Commander
162nd Wing 
Morris Air National Guard Base

What is the one thing that stands out to you as a success for Sun Corridor Inc. over its 20 years? 

Tucson has always been an incredible place to live and work, leading to tremendous growth over the past 20 years.  The Tucson community and surrounding region has become a prime destination for young professionals, small businesses, start-up companies, innovation, industry, and technology. Tucson is where people can bring their ideas and bring them to life in a community where public and private entities thrive together alongside academic and nonprofit partners. The vitality of our region coupled with Sun Corridor’s vision to foster collaboration across a broad range of interests has paved the way for this growth and continued economic success for years to come. 

Why are you involved in Sun Corridor Inc? 

Morris Air National Guard Base has been a part of the Tucson community since 1956 and like our community, has experienced significant growth. Growing from a flying operation with a dirt floor hangar, Morris is home to more than 1,800 military members trained and ready to project combat power anywhere in the world while also training the world’s greatest F-16 pilots for the United States and its allies.  Our base has come to be known across the Air Force as the “small base with a big impact” and we couldn’t make such a great impact without the support of and in partnership with our tremendous community partnerships.  The members of the 162d Wing are proud to call Tucson home and proud to support our neighbors, local businesses, and organizations. As a native Tucsonan, I am involved with Sun Corridor because I am committed to seeing this community that I am so proud of thrive and our economy prosper. 

What’s the biggest opportunity for the region? 

Tucson is a welcoming community with top-notch institutions collaborating to leverage our collective workforce, creativity, and innovation.   As leaders, it is our task to leverage the strengths of our natural resources, growing businesses, and highly skilled individuals to position our community to navigate the challenges of today and tomorrow while readying ourselves to capitalize on future opportunities that may present themselves.  Our biggest opportunity comes from sustaining our current momentum toward improving upon the current environment of collaboration and partnership that creates and sustains jobs, growth, and innovation while meeting the needs of individuals and families looking to make Tucson their forever home.  

READ THE FULL SPECIAL REPORT HERE.