Gov. Greg Abbott announced the formation of a leadership team that will promote Texas as a potential permanent home for the new U.S. Space Academy.
State Rep. Greg Bonnen, M.D. (R–Friendswood) will lead the team, which will partner with the Texas Space Commission to create a proposal explaining why Texas should be the permanent home of the military academy.
The Presidential Commission will consider all proposals and recommend a location.
While visiting Houston last month, Trump signed an executive order to establish the academy. Its purpose will be to “prepare the next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and warfighters and ensure that they are capable of advancing American interests in space.”
NASA needs a permanent site of at least 300 acres for the academy.
Abbott believes that Texas can make it happen.
“Texas is the home of America’s human spaceflight program. No state can match what Texas brings to this mission. NASA’s Johnson Space Center, world-class universities, a premier commercial space industry, major military installations, and an unmatched aerospace workforce give Texas every asset the United States Space Academy requires,” said Abbott.
Abbott’s argument was echoed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows.
“Texas is the perfect home for the United States Space Academy,” said Patrick. “Texas is the driving force behind space innovation and exploration. Our rapidly growing private-sector space industry and world-class research institutions will provide cadets and faculty with the perfect platform to launch America’s new space academy.”
“Texas is a global leader in space exploration and aerospace technology, making our state a natural fit for the new United States Space Academy,” said Burrows (R–Lubbock). “With the hard work of this leadership team, I have faith that we will soon welcome the Academy to the Lone Star State.”
In addition to Bonnen, the proposal team includes Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg, a former astronaut and director of the Texas A&M Space Institute; Dr. Heather Wilson, president of The University of Texas at El Paso and former secretary of the U.S. Air Force; Evan Loomis, Texas Space Commission board member; Dr. Robert Ambrose, associate director of the Texas A&M Space Institute; Jack Fischer, senior vice president at Intuitive Machines and retired astronaut; and Dr. Lori A. Magruder, director of the University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research.
Governors must submit proposals to NASA’s Request for Information by October 26. The Presidential Commission’s report is due on December 26, 2026.
