From the Classroom to the Cosmos: Why SWIFT’s Rocket Lab Matters for Texas and Our Future
A New Engine for Texas’ Workforce
My inner nerd is thrilled to write this today. Since studying Aerospace Engineering at West Point, I’ve always wanted to be in space. Until now, my eyesight has kept me away from that goal for the most part. However, as co-founder of the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT), I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve teamed up with HICAM to launch the first SWIFT Rocket Lab in Austin. This partnership unites advanced manufacturing — the backbone of precision engineering, materials science and automation — with the expanding space sector.
By embedding aerospace training inside HICAM’s 50,000 square-foot facility, we’re offering Austin Community College students and others a chance to design, build and test rockets while learning the vertical-integration skills that companies like SpaceX, Firefly Aerospace , Venus Aerospace and Blue Origin require. Spectrum News reported that the SWIFT Rocket Lab will serve as a pipeline from “classroom to cosmos”, providing hands‑on training in advanced manufacturing and aerospace as the global space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. SWIFT is making sure Texans are ready for that future.
The lab isn’t just about hardware. It embodies a philosophy: put learners next to industry, allow them to tinker and even fail, and they’ll come away with skills employers covet. Dr. Leon Vanstone, our co-founder and a leader at the Texas Space Commission, told Spectrum News that employers want students to learn from mistakes so they can rapidly fix problems and innovate. By situating a rocket lab within a manufacturing plant, we’re creating a true vertical pipeline — from imagination to implementation — that keeps Texas at the forefront of aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Building on a Lifetime of Workforce Innovation
SWIFT’s mission is just the latest in a long list of efforts I’ve enjoyed working to prepare Texans for tomorrow’s jobs. Over the last two decades I’ve had the good fortune to:
Co-founded RideScout and joined Grayline Group: Before SWIFT, I helped build companies that helped people navigate cities and manage technological disruption. These ventures taught me how much reward there is to scale technologies and create jobs.
Advocated for veterans entering the workforce: In a 2024 white paper on serving U.S. veterans, I argued that the media often focuses on trauma without highlighting the post-traumatic growth veterans experience; most of us become better members of society and want to remain active in the workforce. As a Special Advisor for Military Leadership and Strategy at the University of Texas at Austin, I continue to champion smoother transitions for servicemembers.
Led workforce initiatives during the pandemic: When COVID‑19 disrupted jobs, USTomorrow partnered with the Texas Association of Business on a Return‑to‑Work Task Force. Bob Cartwright, my co-chair of that task force, explained that Texas employers and employees were hurting but prepared to lead; the initiative called on both public and private stakeholders to provide data on the pandemic’s impact. Our work provided local officials and community leaders with actionable insights on reopening the economy.
Mentored next‑generation entrepreneurs: Through the West Point Entrepreneurs network, I’ve helped fellow veterans build companies, expand their networks and create new opportunities. The West Point Association of Graduates recognizes that I’ve been instrumental in expanding the program’s outreach and its annual entrepreneur summit.
Elevated workforce discussions statewide: I recently joined The Building Texas Show to discuss the intersection of education, workforce development and Texas’ booming space economy. The episode explores how Texas can better prepare its youth for high-paying careers in aerospace, the importance of partnerships between universities, industries and local communities, and the synergy between public and private sectors.
These experiences taught me that jobs, education and our kids’ future are inseparable. I’ve seen how advanced manufacturing revives small towns, how mentorship changes the trajectory of first-generation college students, and how workforce training can help veterans thrive in civilian life.
Why the SWIFT Rocket Lab Is Different
SWIFT’s approach isn’t just to train workers — it’s to build an ecosystem. We host monthly Ecosystem Space Happy Hours to connect educators, manufacturers, investors and policymakers. Our co-founders — Geoff Tudor, Dr. Leon Vanstone, Heather Wagner Reed, Harvin Moore and Sandy Barker — join forces with the HICAM team to bridge industry and academia. We’re inspired by Texas Space Commission leaders like Brad Morrison, Sarah “Sassie” Duggleby, Evan Loomis and Norman Garza Jr., who believe that Texans of all backgrounds should have entry points into the $1.8 trillion space economy.
The Rocket Lab will teach students to design and fabricate rocket components, integrate those systems and test them under real‑world conditions. This hands‑on experience not only feeds talent into companies like Firefly and Blue Origin but also strengthens Texas’ broader advanced manufacturing base. As the global space economy grows, we’re ensuring Texas remains at the vanguard of precision manufacturing, materials science and automation.
Looking Ahead: A Future in Public Service?
Many of you know I ran for Congress in Texas’ 21st District in 2018. I received 47.6 percent of the vote, losing by less than 10,000 votes. During that campaign I focused on jobs, education and our kids’ future. Although we didn’t win, our team built a movement centered on problem‑solving rather than the politics of division.
Today, I continue a conversation with friends and colleagues about whether I’ll throw my hat into the ring again in 2026 — whether for Congress or the Texas House of Representatives. Right now my focus remains on building the workforce pipeline: launching the SWIFT Rocket Lab, expanding apprenticeships and advocating for veterans. The hyper-partisan politics consuming our country, as USTomorrow’s “Bridge the Gap” piece noted, distract from the real work of creating jobs and giving kids a fair shot. Our organization strives to prioritize people over politics, partnering with organizations I admire like The Mentor Method, the Veterans Energy Project and caregiver training programs to meet workforce challenges.
But I won’t deny that public office is on my mind. The skills gap is widening, and the decisions we make today will shape Texas’ economy for decades. If there’s a way I can serve — whether in Congress or the Legislature — and bring the same collaborative spirit to policy-making that we bring to SWIFT, I’ll seriously consider it.
Join the Conversation
Thank you for reading and for supporting USTomorrow’s mission. If you’re in Austin on Thursday Oct 8, join us at the Ecosystem Space Happy Hour at Capital Factory from 6 – 8 pm. Meet the pioneers building Texas’ space industry and share your thoughts on how we can continue to strengthen our workforce.
As always, I welcome your feedback. What are you seeing out there that gives you hope?
If you have thoughts about me running again, I welcome you to take this data driven survey I’ve created. Or reply to this newsletter or connect with me at the event — I’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can bridge the gap between classroom and cosmos, ensuring that every Texan has the opportunity to thrive in the industries of tomorrow.
Take care,
Joseph
Joseph Kopser
Co-Founder of USTomorrow
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