Release date: July 22, 2025
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What started as a push to transfer technology from the lab to the private sector has sparked something bigger: Space Valley. Stretching from Colorado Springs to El Paso, this corridor of space innovation is emerging as a powerful byproduct of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s tech engagement efforts in New Mexico.
In this episode, I speak with Gabe Mounce, the Director of Tech Engagement at the Air Force Research Laboratory. We’ll explore topics like how public-private partnerships are reshaping the landscape of space innovation. We’ll learn how collaborations with incubators, accelerators, and universities are moving technology forward and building up entire regional economies through innovation.
From a solar array that now powers commercial satellites to an algorithm designed to predict health data that’s now monitoring satellite health, the stories in this episode are a compelling glimpse into the future of federal innovation and the people helping bring it to life.
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[02:06] Gabe has been a career Air Force person. About 15 years ago he transferred into a civilian capacity at the Air Force Research Lab in New Mexico. They work on deploying satellite systems into space and directing energy like lasers.
[03:36] Around 2016, he was invited to join the tech transfer team.
[05:01] A lot of the work they do revolves around the science of real systems to increase spacecraft survivability and resilience in space.
[06:08] They were also pioneering the size of objects to put in space and advanced precision navigation and GPS.
[07:07] They transfer technology out of the lab and commercialize it by licensing the IP such as advanced solar cell technology. The commercial spacecraft sector has been growing.
[09:00] They call this growing commercialization tech transfer and transition or T3.
[10:40] Private sector companies like SpaceX we're just starting to showcase their work in 2017. A lot of companies who are now getting into the launch game are reusing their vehicles.
[12:26] The federal government has always been the biggest underwriter of the space sector. New commercial innovation is now bringing down cost.
[14:12] The distinction between the US Space Force and NASA.
[16:18] NASA has pushed the boundaries of space exploration, while the space force is focused on enabling the DoD and its defense mission.
[18:57] The assets and elements in Albuquerque and New Mexico that enable the regional ecosystem. They have strong motivation to take their expertise and get it into commercial endeavors.
[19:45] The Air Force utilizes the partnership intermediary agreement. They do a lot of work with New Mexico Tech.
[24:02] We learn about accelerators and collaboration to engage with the public. These programs are centered on ways to increase industrial based capacity and work with the federal government.
[25:26] The Rio Grande corridor and all of the investment by the government has a positive effect on the local economy.
[27:51] Gabe shares the "Space Valley" branding and how it's reached critical mass.
[29:18] We learn about a couple of success stories. Including one in solar cell technology.
[32:37] How a private sector company discovered how to predict satellite failure during a Hyperspace Challenge.
[38:40] Gabe was recently elected to be the FLC's Regional Coordinator. He sees a lot of value in enabling the federal lab elements to work together with the other programs.
[44:02] How startup companies can gain the expertise of the lab employees.