Scott Gallagher Departs the Pattern:
It is with mixed emotions that I announce the departure of my friend and fellow employee, Scott Gallagher. For the past two years, Scott has admirably served as TxDOT Aviation’s Director of Planning and Programming bringing new creative and effective ideas to the way we conduct our business.
Scott came to the Aviation Division upon retirement following a distinguished career with the United States Navy. His final duty assignment was Commanding Officer of an F-18 Hornet Squadron in Lemore California. As a retired Naval Aviator myself, I am pleased for Scott that he has an opportunity to return to the cockpit to support the future training and development of Naval Aviation. In his new position with Tac Air based in Patuxent River Maryland, Scott will be serving as a consultant for the F/A-18 community and a pilot for the air services arm of his new company, Tactical Air Support Inc.
I have no doubt that Scott will make a tremendous contribution to the future of the Navy’s flight programs. We all wish him the best in his new career. (See related story )
Funding For Contract Towers May Be In Peril:
As a result of mandatory budget reductions, Congress has proposed and the White House has agreed to across-the-board cuts in January 2013. The Office of Management and Budget has proposed eliminating operations funding for contract towers that serve airports without scheduled service or fewer than 10,000 military operations per year. That would eliminate funding for all of the 125 general aviation airports with contract towers nationwide. In Texas, that would result in loss of funding for staffing of 15 existing airports as well as jeopardize other towers already planned for construction. The contract tower program in Texas has made a major contribution to aviation safety and the development of Business Aviation in our urban areas. It is certainly hoped that Washington can find other means of budget reduction instead of terminating this critically important program.
Boeing Adds 400 New Aviation Jobs At Port San Antonio:
Recently, it was announced that Boeing would be adding 400 new jobs at its facility in San Antonio. The jobs are a part of a relocation from Wichita to San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Puget Sound. The jobs involve future work on the KC-46 refueling tanker and the nation’s fleet of executive jets, including the President’s airplane, Air Force One, and the jets that transport the Vice President, Cabinent members, and other government officials.
Port San Antonio is home to 80 companies employing 14,000 people including 5000 highly skilled individuals working for 14 aerospace companies including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Chromalloy, Gore Design Completions and Pratt and Whitney.
Congratulations to the City of San Antonio and Port San Antonio. (See related story )