AUSTIN — Norman Roy Garza Jr. has been named as the executive director of the Texas Space Commission, created to secure the state’s future in space exploration and development for the next generation of Texans.
Garza Jr. joined the Texas A&M University system in 2014. Since then, he has served as the assistant vice chancellor of government relations and external affairs for three state agencies funded by the state legislature: Engineering Experiment Station and Engineering Extension Service and Transportation Institute, as well as the vice president of government relations for the flagship campus, Texas A&M University in College Station.
“The Texas Space Commission was created last year to ensure that our great state remains the national leader in space exploration and innovation for decades to come,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “Norman brings a wealth of experience that will serve him well as he spearheads our state’s Space Commission. I look forward to working with Norman and the entire Texas Space Commission to secure the future of Texas’ robust space industry.”
While at Texas A&M, Garza supported major initiatives such as partnering with U.S. Army Futures Command to create the Bush Combat Development Complex; obtaining management contracts from National Nuclear Security Administration for Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant; and establishing the Texas Semiconductor Institute and the Texas Space Institute, a $200 million Texas A&M facility to be constructed next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected by the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors,” Garza said. “Through strategic efforts by the Texas Space Commission, Texas will achieve innovative technological advancements that can significantly support many sectors of the commercial space exploration industry.”
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