Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT)

Great work being done by our Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) board member and co-founder Joseph Kopser in leading these discussions with pivotal voices in the Texas space sector! Norman Garza, Jr. YTexas Dr. Leon Vanstone, Geoff Tudor, Harvin Moore, Sandy Barker, Heather Wagner Reed

We love our SWIFT team and sharing their stories. Here is another one for you today! Meet Harvin Moore - Co-Founder and board member?of the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT). Harvin began his career in aerospace as a college-aged member of the launch operations team for the Conestoga I, the first privately funded rocket to reach outer space, from Matagorda Island, Texas in 1982, and continued in a variety of roles over the following years.?? ? He has been involved in the Houston and Texas technology innovation movement since the 1990s as a startup entrepreneur, mentor, advisor, investor, and limited partner of one of Houston's leading startup development organizations and co-working hubs. As a Principal of Frontera Technology Ventures, Inc. (“FTV”),?Harvin?has invested in and advised growth-stage technology companies. FTV holds equity stakes in more than twenty of its portfolio clients as well as stakes in several venture capital funds, and performs advisory and corporate finance activities. From 2019 to 2021,?Harvin?served as President and CEO of Houston Exponential ("HX"), an independent non-profit which works to accelerate the growth of Houston's rapidly expanding technology innovation ecosystem. HX is focused on connecting all parts of the ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, startup companies, angel and venture capital investors, universities, and innovation-oriented large corporations and research institutions. HX is also focused on attracting talent and capital to the region, and promoting Houston as a thriving, innovative, diverse and inclusive city. Throughout his career,?Harvin?has been deeply involved with public education, and worked with several prominent education reform organizations from their early days, including Teach For America as a director, and the charter school KIPP as a founding director. In 2003?Harvin?was elected by Houston voters to the Board of Education of Houston Independent School District, and was re-elected three subsequent times before retiring as the longest serving member of that board in January 2017. Harvin?currently serves on several boards including SWIFT, KIPP Houston, TXRX Labs, Space Center Houston with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and The Powell Foundation. He holds an MBA from New York University and a BA in Economics from Northwestern University. He loves climbing mountains in his spare time, which there is never enough of! Check out his video intro below and learn why he is so passionate about SWIFT! ?? ?? Dr. Leon Vanstone Geoff Tudor Joseph Kopser Sandy Barker Heather Wagner Reed

?? Elevating Texas's Space Frontier! ?? A massive congratulations to The Borderplex Alliance for securing a significant SEARF grant from the Texas Space Commission! This funding will empower their collaboration with the U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S) fostering advancements that will resonate throughout Texas and beyond. ?? The Borderplex Alliance is set to: Enhance National Security: By partnering with the U.S. Space Force, they're bolstering initiatives that safeguard our nation. Drive Economic Growth: This collaboration is poised to attract aerospace investments, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. Position Texas as a Space Leader: Their efforts will further cement Texas's reputation as a hub for space innovation. This achievement underscores the Texas Space Commission's commitment to propelling our state's space ecosystem forward. Kudos the entire TSC team for their visionary leadership ?? The next Texas Space Commission is on Monday and we hope to see some of you there. Together, we're reaching new heights in the Texas space journey. ?? #TxSpaceComm #SEARF #SpaceInnovation Dr. Leon Vanstone Geoff Tudor Joseph Kopser Sandy Barker Harvin Moore Heather Wagner Reed

It’s time for another SWIFT Co-Founder and board member spotlight! Meet Joseph Kopser - a space workforce leader, innovator, and national security advocate. Joseph is an accomplished leader in the national security, aerospace, and space commercialization sectors, with a career dedicated to solving complex challenges and fostering innovation. He is proud to be an integral part of the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) - a program focused on preparing the next generation of talent for the space industry. A graduate of West Point with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Joseph began his journey in the space industry as an intern at the Ames Research Center at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, where he gained invaluable experience in cutting-edge aerospace technology. His passion for space and defense innovation has continued throughout his career, including his role as an advisor for the SpaceFund which accelerates space-related commercial ventures, and as a former member of the prestigious Army Science Board. Joseph served 20 years in the US Army, earning the Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, and Bronze Star. His experience in strategic leadership and innovation positioned him to co-found Ridescout, a mobility technology company later acquired by Mercedes-Benz. He is now President of Grayline Group, where he helps public and private organizations manage disruptive change, particularly in industries like space, energy, and national security. A recognized thought leader, Joseph is a sought-after keynote speaker and moderator at major conferences and events, including The Texas Lyceum, Capital Factory, STATION DC, The University of Texas at Austin, and numerous organizations advancing the U.S. commercial space industry and national security initiatives. His public speaking is anchored in the principles outlined in his co-authored book Catalyst: Leadership and Strategy in a Changing World. Joseph was named a White House Champion of Change for his efforts in energy and transportation and has been deeply involved in cleantech as the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the CleanTX Foundation. His commitment to fostering innovation and building cross-sector partnerships has made him a respected figure in both the commercial and defense spaces. Learn more about Joseph in this intro video below! Dr. Leon Vanstone Geoff Tudor Harvin Moore Sandy Barker Heather Wagner Reed Price Mulford

We are so grateful to have some of the most trailblazing experts in the space sector as part of the SWIFT Founding team. Please meet Sandy Barker, who is an aerospace engineer with over 20 years experience in the industry. A technical trainer at heart, Sandy was on the team that wrote the astronaut curriculum for NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration where she designed and tested the simulators for the International Space Station**** (ISS). She was the first instructor to teach in the Part Task Trainer (PTT). After staying home with her children for 15 years she went back to the industry and hit the ground running. Sandy helped move the Coast Guard surface fleet's maintenance logistics model toward the aviation model. She taught middle school Science and Leadership. She has written maintenance manuals and maintenance training manuals for Honeywell's auxiliary power units. She was also Firefly Aerospace's first Compliance Manager, first?Quality Manager, first Training Manager, first Education Liaison, and served as interim Safety Manager. Sandy knows aerospace requirements, standards, and operations. Most recently, Sandy was the second Director of the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab at The University of Texas at Austin. She knows aerospace operations and loves empowering people to "find their place in space", as evidenced by the success of her former students in varied roles at many,?many aerospace companies. Here is a little video where you can get to know Sandy better: https://lnkd.in/gdNnj2qJ We are so proud to have her on the ground floor of SWIFT! Geoff Tudor Dr. Leon Vanstone Joseph Kopser Harvin Moore Price Mulford Heather Wagner Reed

Fantastic news from Texas Governor Greg Abbott's State of the State Address on Sunday highlighting the Texas Space Commission! ?? Two quotes that really stood out: "Texas is the blueprint for the Future of America" and "We created the Texas Space Commission to boost space exploration from NASA to SpaceX to Blue Origin and far beyond." The momentum across Texas is incredible - from Blue Origin's successful launch today in West Texas to Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander currently on its way to the Moon. When Texans are motivated, nothing is impossible. ?? SWIFT is here to make sure any Texan who wants to pursue a career in space has the opportunity and educational pathway to get there. ???? ?? There has never been a better time to pursue a career in space in Texas!

This article really hits home for us here at SWIFT. Couldn’t be more on point. Please read!

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats! ?? Congratulations to the Texas Space Commission (TSC) and its Board of Directors for their tireless work in awarding $21.5M in Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grants! This marks a significant milestone for the Texas Space Ecosystem and a victory for all of us working toward a brighter, space-powered future. ?? Under the leadership of Chair Gwen Griffin and Executive Director Norman Garza, Jr., TSC is proving to be the quarterback and cheerleader we need—helping direct strategy and fostering collaboration across the state. Their hard work along with their teams has laid the groundwork for these transformative grants, which will lead to more incredible projects, more opportunities, and more wins for Texas. ?? #TxSpaceComm #SEARF #TexasSpaceEcosystem Dr. Leon Vanstone Geoff Tudor Joseph Kopser Harvin Moore Sandy Barker Price Mulford Heather Wagner Reed

Meet SWIFT’s amazing President and co-founder Geoff Tudor! And check out a video intro below. ?????? Geoff is a technology executive at NetApp, Inc. and previously Legislative Director to the former Chairman of the House Science Committee, Congressman Lamar Smith. In his work on Capitol Hill, Geoff authored the first commercial space launch amendments to enable scientists to fly microgravity research payloads on private spaceflights. ???? He led Congressional funding for the Clementine Lunar Mission that discovered the first signatures of ice on the lunar south pole, as well funding for the DCX-1 Delta Clipper that was first to demonstrate a reusable, vertically landing spacecraft design. He received the Boeing Corporation’s Outstanding Achievement award for his work in building the financial business case for the X-33 reusable launch vehicle. In his technology career he co-founded GNS technologies acquired by Symantec, Tellaire, Inc. acquired by MRV Communications and then Nirvanix acquired by Oracle Corporation. He won the Discover Magazine Award for technological innovation and was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award nominee. Geoff is an active private pilot and aviation enthusiast and lives in Austin, Texas.

This week we want to introduce our Founders and board members… the VISIONARIES behind SWIFT! ?? Let’s kick off with Dr. Leon Vanstone’s personal video introduction below ?? Dr. Leon Vanstone is a leading figure in aerospace innovation and science communication. As the founder of the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL), one of the nation’s premier student-led rocket programs, he has trained the next generation of engineers while contributing to groundbreaking advancements min experimental hypersonics and scramjet technology. Passionate about making science accessible to everyone, Leon has delivered several TEDx talks and continues to champion the idea that science is for all. His latest venture, the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT), builds on his vision to unite engineering, experimentation, and communication. SWIFT aims to cultivate top space talent while addressing critical national security and aerospace challenges. Leon’s work reflects his belief in the power of curiosity and collaboration, inspiring others to dream big and contribute to the future of space exploration.