Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined more than 30 aerospace executives, university and K-12 officials, and government leaders in visiting the Space Foundation in Colorado Springs for a tour and presentations on Colorado’s space economy, with a particular focus on its military roots.
The stop was part of a day-long “Front Range Aerospace Bus Tour” Bennet hosted with the Space Foundation, Ball Aerospace, United Launch Alliance, and Lockheed Martin.
“Our state’s vibrant aerospace industry is an economic driver for our economy,” Bennet said. “In order to keep moving this industry forward, it’s critical that we continue to foster this type of regional collaboration.”
“It’s easy to get trapped in our own silos within the aerospace industry, so this tour was helpful in allowing us to look up from our never-ending to-do lists and more fully understand what firms and organizations in other parts of the state are doing,” Kevin O’Neil, CEO of Colorado Springs-headquartered Braxton Technologies, said.
“There’s huge job opportunities for our district’s students within the aerospace sector – and right in our backyard,” Andre Spencer, Superintendent of Colorado Springs Harrison District Two, said. “This tour was a great hands-on learning experience to see what those opportunities are and how our students can take advantage of them if they stick with their studies.”
The tour was designed to further advance regional cooperation and highlight key facets of Colorado’s vibrant aerospace economy.
Other stops included Ball Aerospace in Boulder and United Launch Alliance in Centennial.