< Previous134 T E X A S E C O N O MI C DE V E L O P M E N T G U I DEby FRANK REDDYIf it orbits in space, hovers or soars the blue skies, there’s a good chance that a skilled Texan in the aerospace, aviation or defense industries had a hand planning it out or putting it together.From the legendary home-base operations of NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth’s regional concentration of aerospace manufacturing employees — including American Airlines and Southwest Airlines headquarters — as well as San Antonio’s “Military City USA” status as home to tens of thousands of U.S. Air Force personnel — Texas has made quite the name for itself.Other noteworthy areas of the state: Corpus Christi, Amarillo, El Paso, Harlingen, McAllen, Waco and Wichita Falls. Each of these support A E R O SP A C E , A VI A T I ON A N D DE F E N SEPhoto: Getty Imagesmanufacturing facilities for successful aerospace companies.The aerospace and aviation industry directly employ more than 184,000 Texas workers across 1,350 firms, with their average annual income at $84,300. It’s also one of the top three states for aerospace manufacturing jobs and is home to six of the 50 busiest airports in the country by passengers boarded.In terms of defense, Texas has 15 active military installations and more than 224,065 personnel, which have a $101.6 billion impact on the state economy. Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott joined U.S. Army officials for the activation ceremony of a new U.S. Army Futures Command in Austin — aimed at assessing the future operational environment, emerging threats and new technologies to develop concepts, requirements, force designs and material solutions to meet soldiers’ wartime needs.The U.S. Department of Defense chose Austin as home to the command center following an extensive selection process.Following the ceremony, Abbott said it was “the next step” in an ongoing partnership between the state and the U.S. Military.“With innovative technology companies, emerging startups, a rich pool of talent and world-class universities, Texas is the ideal choice to help launch the Army’s most significant reorganization effort in more than four decades,” Abbott said. “I want to thank Secretary Esper, “With innovative technology companies, emerging startups, a rich pool of talent and world-class universities, Texas is the ideal choice to help launch the Army’s most significant reorganization effort in more than four decades.” — Gov. Greg AbbottCity of Grand Prairie,TXcustom adAviation, Aerospace& Defense3/28/19138 T E X A S E C O N O MI C DE V E L O P M E N T G U I DEUndersecretary McCarthy and all those involved in bringing the Army Futures Command headquarters to Austin.”There were many other milestones throughout the past year within these industries, including Amazon’s announcement that the company plans to build a regional air hub at Fort Worth’s Alliance Airport, creating hundreds of jobs in the region.Meanwhile, California company JetSuite Inc. began moving into their new headquarters in Dallas; Lockheed Martin announced it would bring a new cyber facility and about 100 jobs to Port San Antonio with its Cyber Solutions operations; GrandView Aviation announced it would open a new base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin; Boeing and StandardAero added new jobs in the San Antonio area; and Dallas Love Field, Austin-Bergstrom International and William P. Hobby in Houston were named three of the nation’s fastest growing airports.With all that’s happening, it’s easy to see why Texas continues soaring to new heights as a leader in the aerospace, aviation and defense industries. It goes without saying the sky is no limit in Texas. Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts,Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC),Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI)Sheppard Air Force BaseRed River Army DepotNaval Air Station Joint Reserve BaseEllington Field Joint Reserve BaseNaval Air Station KingsvilleCorpus Christi Naval Air StationCorpus Christi Army DepotJoint BaseSan AntonioLaughlin Air Force BaseFort HoodDyess Air Force BaseGoodfellow Air Force BaseFort BlissTexas’ U.S. Military Bases T E X A S E C O N O MI C DE V E L O P M E N T G U I DEManufacturers and the U.S. Army like the Texas business climate. by CAROL CARTERT The TexasADVANTAGEA D V AN C E D MAN U F A C TU RI N G exas continues to a ract companies involved in advanced technology and manufacturing, with recent projects ranging from military operations to steel manufacturing and technology for trucks. Texas manufacturing employs 874,450 people across the state with an average annual salary of $71,500. More than 113,000 people work in advanced technology development and manufacturing. Additionally, Texas is the top state for manufacturing exports and shipment value. In fact, Texas exported more than $25.1 billion Photo: Getty Images The Texas ADVANTAGEof transportation equipment alone in 2018. While the Texas automotive manufacturing industry is strong, its also a leading state for advanced technology, communications equipment and electronics. Companies like Texas Instruments, Samsung, Novati, Ericsson, Raytheon, Emerson and many more have thriving operations in the Lone Star State. While Austin may not at first glance seem a fit for the U.S. Army, the Army thinks the city is the perfect location for its Army Futures Command — a unit designed to ensure that soldiers are prepared for the next generation of warfare. In what many consider an unlikely decision, the Army chose Austin specifically to put its personnel close to the innovation that is the hallmark of the city.The hope is that the Austin environment will be a perfect fit for the tasks ahead for the Command, charged with developing future warfighting concepts, generating innovative solutions through research and development, and building the next generation of combat systems. San Antonio got a boost from another branch of the military, the U.S. Air National Guard. The city received a contract to provide an avionics refresh for the Guard’s fixed-wing aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to Mumbai, India, in 2018 to broker a deal with JSW Steel (USA) to develop and augment the local steel industry in Baytown. JSW Steel (USA) Inc. agreed to consider a $500 million investment in phases to develop its Baytown steel manufacturing infrastructure. JSW’s Plate & Pipe Mill in Baytown serves the energy, petrochemicals, defense and other heavy equipment industries in the United States.Hyliion, a company that supplies intelligent electric hybrid technology to the trucking industry, is moving from Pittsburgh to Cedar Park, near Austin. Hyliion’s 6x4HE Truck Solution Next >