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The Journey of UTEP's Aerospace Grants: Successes and Setbacks

El Paso Matters•Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3:59 PM•Daniel Perez

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The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has experienced a tumultuous journey with two significant aerospace grants aimed at boosting local manufacturing. The timeline began in 2017 with an agreement to utilize land near Fabens Airport for research, culminating in a $40 million grant awarded in September 2022. However, internal conflicts arose, leading to the suspension of the NSF grant in May 2024 due to alleged inaccuracies in resource claims. The fallout resulted in leadership changes and resignations within UTEP's aerospace program, highlighting the challenges of managing large-scale federal funding and the importance of institutional support. This situation affects local economic development and the future of aerospace initiatives in El Paso.

Key Details: • UTEP's agreement for research space started on April 1, 2017, and ends March 31, 2027. • The NSF grant proposal was submitted on January 18, 2023, with a potential award of up to $160 million. • The NSF suspended work on the grant on April 25, 2024, pending review. • Choudhuri was demoted on May 6, 2024, following an internal audit. • Shery Welsh will start as the new executive director of the Aerospace Center on July 15, 2024.

utep economic-development research grants aerospace

People & Organizations

El PasoVeronica EscobarU.S. Department of CommerceUniversity of Texas at El PasoHeather WilsonDiana NatalicioAhsan ChoudhuriFabens AirportNational Science FoundationShery WelshSusie ByrdAhmed ItaniJack ChessaRyan WickerU.S. Economic Development Administration

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