Air Force Research Laboratory - Supporting NM's Technology Innovation Pipeline

Gabe Mounce, Director, Space Force Accelerators, Air Force Research Laboratory

Gabe Mounce directs the Space Force Accelerator Program for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).  In this capacity, he oversees the Hyperspace Challenge in Albuquerque and the Catalyst Space Accelerator in Colorado Springs, both focused on connecting the entrepreneurial start-up community to the US Space Force. 

He is also the Technology Commercialization Lead where he oversees all aspects of technology transfer, community engagement, government interactions, and marketing & publicity for Directed Energy and Space Vehicle technology.  Gabe recently founded the New Mexico COVID-19 Emergency Supply Collaborative bringing together government, non-profit and private sector organizations from across the state to provide Personal Protective Equipment to healthcare providers in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has degrees from New Mexico State University and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Electrical Engineering. 

New Mexico Economic Development Department Update

Mark Roper, Division Director, New Mexico Economic Development Department
Mark oversees NMEDD programs for economic assistance, Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP), Local Economic Development Act fund (LEDA), MainStreet, International Trade, Community, Business & Rural Development (Regional Reps) and Science and Technology.
 

He has been involved in some of the agency's biggest deals: Facebook, Intel, Flagship Foods, Netflix, NBCU, Admiral Cable, Kairos Power, 3D Glass, and PESCO.
 

He has also shown he can think out of the box with shepherding the first-ever loan from LEDA to an innovative airship company in Roswell and quickly pivoting at the onset of Covid-19 by providing $1.6 million in zero interest loans to assist companies maintain their workforce during Covid-19. In addition, he helped setup a loan guarantee program for Covid-19 effected businesses.