West Texas offers aerospace and defense manufacturers access to applied research, a skilled workforce, extensive test spaces, and strong public and private sector support.
Our region’s desert environment provides ideal conditions for flight testing, supported by the aerospace and defense industries centered around the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and Fort Bliss. WSMR has the nation’s largest open-air test range, covering over 4,000 square miles of airspace that the FAA does not control. This airspace is strictly controlled, allowing extensive horizontal and vertical flight testing. Fort Bliss serves as a key military platform, supporting joint operations, and training, while also offering a talent pipeline, with approximately 19,000 soldiers transitioning to civilian life annually, bolstering the aerospace and defense workforce.
The region’s infrastructure and low population densities have drawn major commercial space ventures. Companies like Blue Origin operate out of a spaceport in Culberson County, Texas, testing rocket development projects. Spaceport America in New Mexico hosts Virgin Galactic, along with other industry leaders, using agreements with WSMR to access its test site airspace. This growing commercial space sector benefits from the area’s suitability for air testing, with added airspace agreements through the FAA.
35 Region Medium Age
40% Population Under 25
1,000+ Engineering Grads Placed
The Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have become leaders in research within aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing in the West Texas region. Their specialized yet complementary capabilities are available to support manufacturers in the region through El Paso Makes, an affiliate of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), as well as through an economic development partnership supported by the City of El Paso and other collaborators, promoting growth and business opportunities.
The Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at UTEP have established themselves as national frontrunners in building a skilled aerospace and defense workforce. These centers integrate classroom education with hands-on, industry-aligned training, equipping students with the expertise needed to compete in their respective fields. Over the past decade, they have successfully placed over 1,000 engineering graduates into high-paying roles with leading employers such as NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Blue Origin. Building on this success, the Centers are broadening their talent development initiatives to include technicians, whose versatile skills remain highly valuable as technology advances.
This talent platform leverages the region’s abundant, youthful workforce, eager to embrace new opportunities. With a median age of 35 and nearly 40% of the population under 25, the region stands out for its demographic advantage. Nationally, 32% of aerospace and defense manufacturing workers are aged 55 or older, compared to just 24% in Paso del Norte. By investing in career development and tapping into this young talent pool, the region anticipates significant long-term benefits from the sustained contributions of its workforce.
With a skilled bilingual workforce, cost-effective operations, and a strategic location bridging the U.S. and Mexico, your business can scale seamlessly.
Don’t just grow, thrive!
Economic & International
