BROWNSVILLE, Texas,
Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Paragon VTOL Aerospace, a lead innovator in vertical
take-off and landing technology (VTOL), held a press conference
today announcing new partnerships which will place Brownsville at the center of the development
of sustainable vertical lift-off and landing technologies.
The partnerships are with Rolls Royce, S&C Electric, ARUP,
Texas Southmost College (TSC), the City
of Brownsville and Greater Brownsville Incentives
Corporation (GBIC). The partnerships include one with
Texas Southmost College to provide
education and job training to help develop this new industry.
The company also announced the addition of their two newest
members, Chief Executive Officer, Ken
Peterman, and Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Mobley.
Paragon VTOL Aerospace has previously announced important
commitments to Brownsville. The company announced in
June 2021 that it is building its
manufacturing hub in the City of
Brownsville's industrial park at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International
Airport. In August 2021, the
company announced that it will pioneer the urban air taxi movement
in the Rio Grande Valley.
About the partnerships announced today, Byron Thurber,
Associate Principal of ARUP said:
"ARUP is looking forward to
working with Paragon VTOL Aerospace on the planning and design of
vertiports and microgrids to support this exciting new
transportation system."
ARUP is a 75-year-old global engineering and design firm, with
over 16,000 staff working in 140 offices in 90 countries, focused
on sustainable development for the built environment.
Javier Gonzalez of Rolls Royce
Solutions America, Inc., said:
"Rolls Royce Solutions America,
Inc. is offering our support and interest in working with Paragon
to develop the sustainable infrastructure needed to power this
exciting venture in Brownsville,
Texas."
Tom Hawes of S&C Electric
Company, Director of Business Development, said:
"We look forward to advancing
Paragon's vision in building a sustainable energy solution for VTOL
and Vertiports."
S&C specializes in the switching, protection, and control of
electric power systems.
Dusty Baker of Baker Energy,
said:
"We have managed unique energy
challenges, and we will provide you with the highest of standards
in both the environmental and social perspectives, and we are eager
to mobilize and develop a microgrid that reflects these
values".
"The Baker Energy Team is
excited to be joining forces with Paragon VTOL to bring the
Brownsville community their
state-of-the-art drone delivery system. The Baker Energy Team was
founded by legendary baseball player/manager Dusty Baker, who "looks forward to teaming up
with Mr. Smith's team and developing a modern, renewable, and
resilient microgrid to serve Brownsville to power the delivery
system."
Texas Southmost College (TSC), a key
partner in this initiative, will provide students with the
opportunity to gain a comprehensive skillset, through developed
educational programs. The collaboration with the companies, along
with the City of Brownsville, will
be crucial to the initiative for advancing
zero-emission energy solutions, which will establish a
viable, smart microgrid, while also giving local talent the
opportunity to expand their horizons.
In noting the importance of the partnerships and the training
that Texas Southmost College will
provide to support the effort, Dr. Jesus
Rodriguez, the college president, said:
"Our community has so much to
benefit from investing our youth in the future that is VTOL. By
tailoring degrees aimed at securing permanent positions with
companies like Paragon VTOL Aerospace locally and internationally,
we continue to demonstrate our fervent commitment to being a
torchbearer in breakthrough technologies, putting Brownsville talent at the front seat of
conversations, opening doors for them globally."
Dwight Thanos Smith, Chief
Visionary Officer and Lead Inventor at Paragon, discussed
technological breakthroughs and decarbonizing transport. He
said:
"The time has come to start
putting together a safe and reliable ecosystem that is essential
for the VTOL sector to be more than just a shiny object. Without a
reliable energy grid and comprehensive Vertiport system, the
industry will face preventable difficulties that could be avoided
by strategically using best and common-sense practices. This
announcement signifies the importance of one of many steps Paragon
will take to enable the viability and opportunities for the VTOL
sector to become mainstream."
In praising the partnerships, Mayor Trey
Mendez said:
"The City of Brownsville is at the forefront of
innovation in aerospace, transportation, and energy sectors that
translate into partnerships with cutting edge companies, such as
Paragon VTOL Aerospace and the companies mentioned today. Paragon
is a company that recognizes the strength of our binational economy
with Mexico, while also utilizing
local talent at TSC, who will be a key partner in tailoring
educational degrees to meet our exponential current and future
workforce needs. We must go beyond what we feel is possible, beyond
these limits and seize opportunities like these with Paragon and
other companies, and our local community college. We are
seeing the future, and it's happening in Brownsville."
For more information, please contact Felipe Romero, Director of Communications and
Marketing, at felipe.romero@brownsvilletx.gov or (956)547-6505
to schedule media interviews.
About Brownsville,
Texas
Brownsville
is located at the southernmost tip of Texas and it is the largest city in the Rio
Grande Valley with a population of approximately 200,000. It is the
2nd most historic city in the Lone Star State, making it rich in
history and unique in beauty. A city full of life with over 70
miles of resacas (oxbow lakes) and over 100 miles of walk, hike and
bike trails. It is home of the one and only Charro Days Festival
and the Gladys Porter Zoo. Brownsville is the gateway to the future with
the only deep-water port located on the U.S.-Mexico Border and the
newest airport terminal in the region. As the latest New Space
City, Brownsville's space
eco-system is growing with SpaceX, Spaced Ventures and Space
Channel. Brownsville, Texas is
located on the border, by the sea and beyond! Learn more at
brownsvilletx.gov or by following the City of Brownsville on its official social
media pages: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation
(GBIC)
The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC)
is a non-profit organization, Type A Economic Development
Corporation, created to oversee the disbursement of a ¼ cent sales
tax collected in the City of
Brownsville. The GBIC board, approve funding for job
creation incentives and various performance based programs related
to manufacturing, infrastructure and education. GBIC also provides
business assistance, site selection, and permitting assistance, as
well as job training to businesses wanting to locate in
Brownsville. For more information,
visit GBIC at https://greaterbrownsville.com/.
BIOS
Ken Peterman, Chief Executive
Officer, Paragon
Ken
Peterman is CEO, Paragon VTOL Aerospace, an American company
reshaping Urban Air Mobility Infrastructure by moving aggressively
on a global scale to establish innovative and sustainable Vertical
Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Operations using sophisticated light and
heavy cargo VTOL drones, an innovative software highway platform
and environmentally friendly, green energy microgrid power.
Founded by visionary Dwight
Smith, Paragon VTOL Aerospace is a constructively disruptive
air mobility technology leader developing unprecedented
infrastructure opportunities in the skies. Previously, as Founder
and CEO, The SpyGlass Group, Ken led an innovative
thought-leading organization that helped shape aerospace and
defense strategic trajectories in the mobile networking,
cybersecurity, satellite and aerospace sectors since 2012. As a
passionate, creative and forward leaning leader, Ken has been
honored with multiple awards, including: - Ten Best Innovative
Business Leaders Industry Tech Outlook, 2020 - Businessman of the
Year BattleSpace Magazine, 2018 - Game Changer Awardee
Vanguard Magazine, 2018 Previously, as
President, Viasat Government Systems (2013-2021), Ken led
a global defense business (>$1B)
recognized as a market leader in satellite communications, hybrid
networking, data links, information assurance, cybersecurity, and
blended air/ground situational awareness. Under Ken's
leadership, Viasat built a culture of proactively
creating unprecedented, technology-enabled capabilities, becoming
the fastest organically growing US defense company six consecutive
years.
Previously, as President, ITT/Exelis Communications and
Electronic Warfare Systems (2007-2013), Ken led a global defense
and aerospace business (>$1B).
Portfolios included tactical and satellite communications systems,
information assurance, cybersecurity, global positioning systems
(GPS), electronic protection and counter IED systems, and
integrated command, control, communications and computer (C4)
systems for U.S. and allied forces in over 35 countries.
(Note: Exelis spun out of ITT in 2011 and was then
acquired by L3Harris.)
A distinguished leader in aerospace and defense, Ken enjoyed
successful executive leadership tenures at Viasat, ITT/Exelis,
Collins Aerospace and Raytheon. Broadly respected as a thought
leader and innovator among US and international leaders, Ken serves
on a variety of boards and advisory groups. Ken received a Bachelor
of Science in Electrical Engineering (high honors) from
Tri-State University (now Trine) and
completed executive programs at Stanford
University Graduate School of Business and Pennsylvania State University.
Jeffrey L. Mobley, Chief
Financial Officer, Paragon
Jeffrey
L. Mobley recently joined Paragon VTOL as its Chief
Financial Officer. He is an accomplished senior executive with more
than 26 years of finance, capital markets, commodity markets,
acquisition and operational experience, primarily in the energy
industry.
He has a strong track-record in building organizations and
designing and implementing sophisticated financial reporting,
accounting and IT/IM systems, as well as managing risks and capital
allocation. He has led the evaluation of more than 140 acquisition
opportunities valued at more than $21
billion resulting in the completion of nine transactions
totaling $4.9 billion including the
formation and build out of three start-up private companies.
Mr. Mobley has marketed and completed 39 public and private
equity and debt offerings totaling approximately $37 billion in capital formation. He also has led
oil and gas hedging programs that generated realized gains in
excess of $9 billion. He has served
as: Chief Financial Officer for Gavilan Resources, a private
company sponsored by Blackstone Energy Partners; Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Permian Resources, a
private company sponsored by the The Energy and Minerals
Group and First Reserve; Senior Vice President – Major Acquisitions
for American Energy Partners; and Senior Vice President – Investor
Relations and Research for Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
Mr. Mobley's career has also included equity research and
investment banking, as well as private equity investments at Enron
Capital and Trade Resources. He has previously been recognized by
IR Global Rankings as Best Investor Relations Officer and for the
Best Investor Relations Program in North
America, as well as for Best Investor Relations in Energy by
IR Magazine. Mr. Mobley is a Chartered Financial Analyst and earned
a BS degree in Agricultural Economics with Honors from New Mexico State University, as well as an MBA from
The Wharton School of Business.
CONTACT: communications@brownsvilletx.gov, (956)
547-6505
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