Oklahoma's Aerospace and Defense Industry is Poised for Growth: How Oklahoma Space Works is Leading the Charge

At the start of the year, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt delivered a powerful address, highlighting the state’s potential to become a national leader in aerospace and defense. With a focus on economic growth, he emphasized the importance of attracting industries that will drive innovation and create jobs, stating, "We don't need more taxes in Oklahoma, we need more taxpayers." His message was clear: Oklahoma’s future prosperity lies in expanding its industrial base, especially in sectors like aerospace and defense, to bring more opportunities and long-term economic benefits to the state.

A Growing Aerospace and Defense Hub

Oklahoma has long been a key player in the aerospace and defense sectors. With a legacy rooted in aviation, the state is home to major military installations such as Tinker Air Force Base, which is one of the largest air logistics centers in the country. Additionally, companies like Boeing and Northrop Grumman have significantly expanded their operations in Oklahoma over recent years. These expansions have provided a strong foundation for the aerospace industry to flourish, creating thousands of jobs and injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.

In his address, Governor Stitt pointed to these developments as evidence that Oklahoma is on the right track. The aerospace and defense industries, he noted, are critical to Oklahoma’s continued growth, offering high-paying jobs and attracting skilled workers to the state. Oklahoma is not just an attractive option for major corporations, but also for smaller aerospace contractors looking to capitalize on the state’s business-friendly environment, low operational costs, and growing workforce.

Oklahoma Space Works: Fulfilling the Governor’s Vision

Amid this growing industry landscape, Oklahoma Space Works has emerged as a vital player, committed to advancing the governor’s vision by building opportunities within the aerospace and defense sectors. Founded by a group of aerospace professionals and MBA graduates from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Space Works is focused on creating a robust infrastructure to support the space and defense industries.

Rather than pushing the boundaries of space exploration or innovation, Oklahoma Space Works is filling a different but equally important need: providing secure, operational facilities for aerospace companies to thrive. Their approach is centered on attracting new businesses to Oklahoma by offering state-of-the-art facilities and operational support that allows companies to hit the ground running. By doing so, Oklahoma Space Works helps reduce overhead for incoming businesses, making it even more appealing for them to set up shop in the state.

As Governor Stitt mentioned, "we need more taxpayers," not more taxes. Oklahoma Space Works is directly addressing that need by fostering an environment where aerospace companies can flourish, thereby creating more jobs and contributing to the state’s tax base. The focus is on leveraging Oklahoma’s low-cost environment, strong aerospace infrastructure, and a growing talent pool to make the state a national hub for aerospace and defense.

A Vision for the Future

Oklahoma Space Works is already seeing success. With a fully operational facility and a growing team of space and defense professionals, the company is helping to meet the demands of an expanding industry. By building the infrastructure and providing the support that aerospace companies need, they are helping to ensure that Oklahoma remains a competitive player on the national stage.

Governor Stitt’s emphasis on expanding the aerospace and defense industries aligns perfectly with Oklahoma Space Works’ mission. The company's focus on growth and collaboration ensures that Oklahoma is well-positioned to attract more companies, create more jobs, and drive the kind of economic development that benefits all Oklahomans.

As Oklahoma continues to rise as a leader in aerospace and defense, Oklahoma Space Works is at the forefront, making the state an attractive destination for companies and talent alike. Together, we are building tomorrow’s frontier in Oklahoma.