Second from left: Tim Joniec, Director of Government and Stakeholder Relations for Houston Airports. Second from right: Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, join FAA Regional Administrator Rob Lowe and others during a tour of Venus Aerospace at the Houston Spaceport.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, Houston Airports hosted FAA Regional Administrator Rob Lowe and senior advisor Blair Hess for visits to Venus Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, and the TXANG 147th Attack Wing at the Houston Spaceport, which is located at Ellington Airport. Houston Airports also hosted Texas Space Commission Executive Director Norman Garza Jr. and Texas Rep Dr. Greg Bonnen.
“Today was a great day for our aerospace and military friends at Houston Spaceport and Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base,” said Tim Joniec, Houston Airports Director of Government and Stakeholder Relations. “We value these relationships and enjoy the "can do" attitude of each of these organizations.”
Owned and managed by the Houston Airport System, the Houston Spaceport has a clear goal to create a focal point for aerospace innovation with a cluster of aerospace companies that will lead the nation in the transition from a government-driven to a commercially driven space program. Licensed for horizontal launch by the FAA in 2015, the Houston Spaceport is the nation's 10th commercial spaceport. It is working to create meaningful, tangible value for tenants and partners by ensuring our aerospace cluster offers the crucial tools and facilities to support aviation and space businesses. The Houston Spaceport is located at Ellington Airport.
During the 88th Texas Legislature (2023), Houston Airports' government relations and advocacy efforts, as well as those of many others, helped establish H.B. 3447, which created and established the new Texas Space Commission (TSC).
According to Joniec, the Texas Space Commission will help cement Texas’ position as a national leader in the space industry and secure its future in space exploration and development for the next generation of Texans.
The state budget included $350M to help establish the organization and provide grant opportunities to develop emerging technologies, research opportunities, workforce training and infrastructure related to aerospace in Texas.
Joniec was recently appointed as the new Chairman of the Texas Commercial Airports Association (TCAA). TCAA is an airport trade group that Joniec helped establish in 2012 to advocate for commercial airports across Texas, providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
TCAA Members represent the commercial passenger airports in Texas, serving more than 198 million passengers annually and supporting more than 730,866 full-time jobs, producing $84.9 billion in annual economic output.