Archive for February, 2010
NMSU Gets New Aerospace Engineering Graduate Program
Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News
By Amanda L. Husson
A master’s degree in aerospace engineering could take Krystal Deinez any number of places – or help her stay right here in southern New Mexico. Deinez, 24, came to New Mexico State University from Maxwell, N.M., to get her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and will be one of the first students to join the aerospace engineering graduate program this fall.
From there, even the sky’s not the limit. Deinez said she’d be looking everywhere for job opportunities when she finishes her degree, but she sees potential here. “I like southern New Mexico,” she said. “With the spaceport and White Sands, there are a lot of possibilities I could look for.”
Patricia Hynes, director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, said the graduate program, which received final approval on Dec. 15 after a three-year process, was key to developing the highly skilled workforce that will be needed to support the growing commercial space industry in the area. “This is trying to help NMSU become to the commercial space industry what Stanford has become to Silicon Valley,” she said. As a new industry evolves, they’ve got to have the university to back it up.
Tom Burton, mechanical and aerospace engineering department head, said the program – and the industry – need time to grow, but in the long run, more companies will be looking into the area because of both. “Twenty to 30 years from now, there will be a big aerospace presence around the spaceport,” Burton predicted. “There will be an aerospace industry here and we will have the technical base to support it.”
This year more than 60 entering freshmen declared themselves aerospace engineering majors – the largest year-to-year increase in the undergraduate program’s short history. Another 60 are expected in the fall, and an external study calls for a $1 million increase in the program to support students and hire six full-time faculty members. The program employs two full-time faculty members at present, with two more projected to start in the fall.
Deinez, who has already begun her graduate work, will be one of just a few masters’ students this fall. “I haven’t made up my mind,” on a career focus, Deinez said, “but I think I would definitely be more valuable with a graduate degree.”
Commercial Realtors Featured at March Business on the Border Forum
The March meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet.
The March Forum will feature a panel of local commercial real estate brokers and developers discussing the local commercial real estate market and opportunities in a changing market. Panel members will include:
- John L. Hummer, Owner/Broker with Steinborn TCN Commercial Real Estate;
- Gil Jones, Associate Broker with NAI 1st Valley Commercial Real Estate;
- Donnie Brainard, President/Qualifying Broker with Alameda Property Group; and
- Rick Stoes, Managing Director for Grubb & Ellis.
Luncheon cost is $20.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public. A large turnout is expected so reservations are recommended. Please confirm your attendance to ensure proper space will be available by sending an email to rsvp@mveda.com or by calling the office at (575) 525-2852.
Dona Ana County Ozone Update Meeting – March 4, 2010
The New Mexico Environment Department Air Quality Bureau (NMED-AQB) is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 2-4pm at the Sunland Park City Hall Chamber. The purpose of this meeting is to outline the new proposed federal ozone standards and update the public about ozone pollution and “nonattainment” in Dona Ana County. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed more stringent national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone.  EPA will accept comments on the proposal until March 22, 2010. A direct link to the proposed rule is available here: http://www.epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/fr/20100119.pdf.  Directions on how to submit comments are on the first two pages of the proposal.  More supplementary information on the proposal is available at the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/air/ozonepollution/actions.html#jan10s. Please confirm your attendance to ensure proper space will be available by using the contact information below.
Michael Baca
Environmental Analyst, NMED AQB
1170 N. Solano Dr. Suite M, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Office: (575) 647-7983
National Security Technology Conference – March 2-4, 2010
The 2nd Annual National Security Technology Conference will be held at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces on March 2-4, 2010. The conference is hosted by the National Security Technology Incubator (NSTI) operated by the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University. NSTI is funded by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration division. NSTI promotes the development of new and expanding technology business in New Mexico.
The conference will introduce companies to major contractors and government decision makers working in the national security sectors. Panels will address various teaming arrangements and potential funding opportunities, and includes a classified session on cyber security. If you are a technology company wishing to do business in this region’s billion dollar industry, you should plan on attending and/or exhibiting.
Detailed information including the conference agenda, speakers and contractors attending, and registration information is available on the NSTI conference website.
