State Rep. Stephen Bartels of Eckerty has been pegged to co-chair the recently revived Indiana General Assembly's defense caucus, an effort aimed at not only recognizing but also pushing forward recommendations to fortify Indiana's defense sector. As reported by the Indiana House Republicans, the caucus is setting its sights on avenues to bolster military bases, bolstering infrastructure and operations, and expanding the defense industry within the state.
Indiana is no stranger to the defense economy with the Sagamore Institute noting that, back in 2023, the state was home to over 61,000 defense jobs, which directly poured $6.5 billion into Indiana's economy. Bartels, who brings a wealth of experience with 22 years in the military and retiring as a major, spoke to his intent to not only accelerate but also maintain the role Indiana plays in the defense field and to ensure military base structures augment the state's readiness.
Beyond the physical aspects of military infrastructure, Bartels and the defense caucus are also keen to address the more personal needs of its servicemembers. Bartels stated that they hope "to address housing and other needs of Hoosier servicemembers to further support our military personnel," which would indicate a holistic approach to the state's military support system, as per the Indiana House Republicans.
This move seems well supported by Bartels' peers. House Speaker Todd Huston of Fishers is backing his new role, stating, "With his robust military background, Representative Bartels will help identify opportunities for Indiana to be an innovative leader in the defense sector, support our military and contribute to state and national security," according to the Indiana House Republicans.
