El Paso, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott unveiled a Texas‑wide leadership team on Monday aimed at persuading the federal government to locate the U.S. Space Academy in Texas. The team will work closely with the Texas Space Commission to develop a formal proposal that highlights the state’s unique aerospace assets.
Key members of the team
State Representative Greg Bonnen will chair the effort, and among the appointed experts is University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson. Wilson, a former secretary of the U.S. Air Force, brings extensive experience in national defense and space policy to the initiative. Other members include senior faculty from Texas universities and industry leaders from the state’s growing commercial space sector.
Why Texas?
Governor Abbott emphasized that Texas already hosts the nation’s primary human‑spaceflight hub at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He noted that Texas universities consistently produce engineers, scientists, and operators who support space missions, and that the state’s major military installations and private space companies already design, launch, and operate spacecraft.
“Texas is the home of America’s human spaceflight program,” Abbott said in a statement. “No state can match what Texas brings to this mission.”
Federal backdrop
In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order at the Johnson Space Center establishing a Presidential Commission on the U.S. Space Academy. The commission is tasked with recommending a permanent site for the academy, a move that reflects the administration’s commitment to expanding America’s leadership in space exploration.
The Texas team’s proposal will be submitted to the commission for consideration alongside proposals from other states. By aligning the state’s academic resources, military infrastructure, and commercial space industry, the team hopes to demonstrate that Texas offers the most comprehensive environment for a national space academy.
Local impact
If the academy is sited in Texas, the state could see a boost in high‑skill jobs, increased federal investment in research facilities, and new educational pathways for Texas students interested in aerospace careers. UTEP, already a hub for engineering and aerospace studies, stands to benefit from heightened visibility and potential partnerships with the academy.
Governor Abbott is currently running for re‑election this November, facing Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa. The space academy proposal adds a high‑profile achievement to his campaign platform, underscoring his focus on economic development and technological leadership.
Next steps
The leadership team will convene over the coming weeks to draft the proposal, gather data on Texas’s aerospace ecosystem, and coordinate with federal officials. Stakeholders from the private sector, including companies that build launch vehicles and satellite systems, have expressed enthusiasm for the initiative.
Texas officials remain confident that the state’s proven track record in space operations, combined with its robust educational institutions, will make a compelling case for the U.S. Space Academy’s permanent home.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
