Virginia Beach, VA – Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio, Vice Chair of the Aerospace States Association (ASA), attended the organization’s 33rd Annual Meeting and 6th State Aerospace Policy Summit in Virginia this week, along with leadership from the Guam International Airport Authority and Community Defense Liaison Office.
As part of the event, Lt. Governor Tenorio moderated a panel from prominent spaceports in Alaska, Florida, Virginia, and New Mexico, focusing on advancing aerospace innovation and interstate partnerships. The panel brought together experts from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia, and Spaceport America in New Mexico. Discussions centered on commercial space operations, regulatory challenges, technological advancements, and strategies to enhance economic impacts from the growing space economy. The Lt. Governor and delegation also had the opportunity to visit NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility operated by Goddard Space Flight Center, a major NASA spaceport that serves as a versatile hub for scientific research, launch operations and aeronautical testing.
“We are committed to the ongoing work to spur economic development and job creation by leveraging aerospace opportunities and building robust infrastructure,” said Lt. Governor Tenorio. “Through collaborative efforts like those highlighted in this panel, Guam can generate high-skilled jobs, attract investments, and drive sustainable growth that benefits our communities for generations to come. This opportunity to engage in national discussions regarding the evolution and expansion of aerospace and aviation enables me to promote Guam as a place to be considered,” Tenorio added. “Our geographic location, aviation infrastructure, and security are major advantages in this regard.”
Lt. Governor Tenorio’s role in the ASA, including his recent election as Vice Chair, positions Guam as a key player in national aerospace policy. His participation in the summit underscores the territory’s strategic efforts to expand its aerospace footprint, including potential spaceport development and industry networking to foster local economic diversification. The Aerospace States Association is a nonpartisan organization comprising lieutenant governors, state legislators, and delegates dedicated to supporting aerospace and aviation industries across the United States and its territories.
Prior to attending the ASA, the Lt. Governor attended the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) summer policy event, bringing community leaders together to focus on fast-changing priorities emerging from Washington, D.C. The Lt. Governor had the opportunity to engage with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment, the Honorable Dale Marks, to discuss military growth and impacts on Guam. ASD Marks has been invited to be a keynote speaker at the first Guam Defense Forum hosted by the Office of the Governor Community Defense Liaison Office in September of this year.
Lt. Governor Tenorio added, “Following the Governor’s strong commitment to driving innovation and diversifying Guam’s economy, I was happy to meet with the ASTRO America team to support the Guam Additive Materials and Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA). The GAMMA initiative represents a bold step toward building advanced manufacturing capabilities on the island, creating high-skilled jobs, and positioning Guam as a strategic hub for technology in the Indo-Pacific region. We’re grateful for partners who share the Governor’s vision for a resilient and self-sustaining future for our people. We are pleased that the stakeholders at GAMMA have this level of confidence in our people and our administration.”
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