Governor Greg Abbott has made a series of strategic appointments to Texas’s Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee, positioning industry heavyweights to help steer the Lone Star State’s aerospace ambitions for the coming years.
On Tuesday, Abbott announced the appointment of Summer Webb alongside the reappointments of Aimee Burnett and Sonja Clark to terms that will expire on September 1, 2029. This follows his earlier appointment of Boeing executive Chris Broom to the same committee last month.
Industry Veterans at the Controls
Who are these appointees shaping Texas’s aerospace future? They represent some of the biggest players in the industry.
Summer Webb brings a unique perspective as both the deputy director of Launch Site One and Government Relations Director for Texas at Blue Origin. She’s also got political chops as the Mayor of Valentine, where she represents rural communities in the Rio Grande Council of Governments. Webb holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Texas at El Paso, combining financial expertise with her aerospace industry experience.
Aimee Burnett of Southlake comes to the committee with over 24 years at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, where she currently serves as vice president of F-35 Business Development. Her extensive background spans engineering, operations, and business development roles within the defense giant. “Burnett’s appointment maintains a strong connection between the committee and one of Texas’s largest aerospace employers,” industry watchers have noted. She holds both undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees from Southern Methodist University and serves on several prestigious boards.
The third appointee, Sonja Clark, brings a fascinating career trajectory to the table. Currently the site leader of Bell Textron’s Military and Commercial Aircraft Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo, Clark actually began her professional life in healthcare as a registered nurse and administrator before making a pivot to aerospace in 2006. Since then, she’s held leadership positions across multiple departments including Environmental Health & Safety, Human Resources, and Integrated Operations.
These three appointments follow Abbott’s earlier selection of Chris Broom to the committee for a term expiring September 1, 2027. Broom currently serves as vice president of Commercial Training Solutions for Boeing Global Services and previously spent 27 years at American Airlines, ultimately becoming managing director of Flight and Training Administration, according to state records.
Stakes in the Sky
The appointments come at a crucial time for Texas’s aerospace sector. The Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee plays a vital role in the state’s economic development strategy, working to both recruit and retain aerospace and aviation jobs and investments in a highly competitive national landscape.
Texas has been aggressively positioning itself as a hub for both traditional aerospace manufacturing and the burgeoning commercial space industry. With Blue Origin operations in West Texas, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, and major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Bell Textron maintaining significant presences, the state has become increasingly central to America’s aerospace ambitions.
Broom’s extensive experience in flight training operations brings additional expertise to the committee at a time when workforce development remains a critical challenge for the industry, industry analysts have observed.
The committee will likely face complex challenges as traditional aerospace manufacturing evolves alongside rapid development in commercial space, drone technologies, and advanced air mobility concepts — all areas where Texas has sought to establish competitive advantages.
With terms extending to 2029 for three of the appointees, this group will help shape the trajectory of Texas’s aerospace sector well into the next decade, potentially influencing billions in investment and thousands of high-skilled jobs across the state.
