EP. 95 | Bringing Space to West Texas: Matt Van Parys on Innovation, Grit & Diversifying the Basin

In this episode, Angel sits down with Matt Van Parys, VP of the Texas Space Coalition and 25 year Air Force veteran, to talk about how West Texas is positioning itself as the next hub for the space industry. Matt shares the story behind founding a nonprofit built to connect academia, industry, and government, and why he believes Midland and El Paso, not the usual I-35 corridor cities, are the right places for this growth to happen.

Topics discussed:

1. Matt’s 25 year Air Force career and how it led him into the space industry
2. The founding story behind Texas Space Coalition and its mission in West Texas
3. Why El Paso and Midland were chosen over the traditional I-35 tech corridor
4. Space as a “second horse” to help balance Midland’s oil and gas economy
5. SpaceX and Elon Musk as a case study in perseverance through failure
6. Local businesses already working space adjacent, including a precision machining shop in El Paso
7. Early STEM and robotics education, starting as young as third grade
8. The “brain drain” and “heart drain” of aerospace graduates leaving the region for work
9. Midland’s Air and Space Port and how it compares to Spaceport America
10. Advice for entrepreneurs on perseverance, getting professional help, and avoiding the myth of overnight success

Learn more about Texas Space Coalition at txspacecoalition.org.