James Adams and His Work Exapnding the Space Industry

Recently, I had the chance to sit down and speak with James Adams. James is the executive director of TexSpace, an organization focused on advocating for the space economy in Texas, and the Director of Operations at Gallant Culture, a marketing agency located in Houston, Texas. James shared details about his many experiences and insights in the space industry and his thoughts on its future development. My discussion with James is detailed in the following sections.

To gain an understanding of James’ current work, I asked him to detail his role at Gallant and what they do. He explained that Gallant deals with the “digital marketing and communications of companies with a focus on the management of their brand.” They deal primarily with startups and enterprise business-to-business (B2B) clients specialized in industrial innovation. . James then explained how he “grew into his current role.” He originally joined the team 4 years ago as a sustainability consultant for energy and chemical clients, but has since evolved into the Director of Operations. With this growth has also come a change in responsibilities; James now deals more with the overall strategies and vision work for the companies Gallant works with.

Expanding on James’ current work, I also asked him about his role at TexSpace and what they aim to accomplish. James explained that he was first introduced to TexSpace when they met with Gallant to create a brand and marketing strategy. James was very interested in the goals and mission of TexSpace, so he joined the organization and is now serving as the executive director. TexSpace was created to unite and increase awareness in the space industry “across the civil, commercial, and military sectors” while promoting the development of the overall space industry in Texas. Texas, with its rich history in human spaceflight, wants to help support the growing sectors of space, including supporting the Space Force, increasing education and research in the industry, and facilitating the increased establishment of commercial businesses.

I was curious to ask James what got him interested and involved with space in the first place. He explained that he always “had an interest in the Universe and all of its unanswered questions.” He has always had a passion for space, leading him to do some work with the USDA attempting to recreate microclimates leveraging energy and water capture technologies while also learning more about space throughout his studies. When James found out about TexSpace and their mission, he thought it was absolutely needed and an awesome idea. It allowed him to continue exploring his interests while also developing the emerging space industry in Texas.

Being so involved in the development of the space industry in Texas, I asked James to describe the role he had in the development and creation of the newly formed Texas Space Commission. James explained by saying the role of himself and TexSpace was to “amplify the message” of the need for the establishment of an authority to help attract commercial and military involvement with space to Texas. He worked with different groups to find out the needs and opportunities that different regions of Texas offer, which culminated in a 70-page report on the ultimate need for the Texas Space Commission. In a grassroots effort, James helped to formulate and draft some of the bills leading to the creation of the commission while also listening to community needs within the industry. James believes that Texas has a “large concentration of supporting industries,” and these must be utilized properly in the further development of the space industry in our great state. During the process, other organizations and cities saw the goal of James’ grassroots efforts and contributed in their own ways to get it to the finish line.

Since James is at the forefront of the developing space industry in Texas, I wanted to hear his views on the future of the industry and where it is going. I asked him where he sees the future of the industry in Texas and how we are getting there. James explained that, in the short term, commercial space companies and academic institutions are crucial for nurturing the already existing ecosystem, as they will help to develop and gear the infrastructure needed for a larger future industry. Along with new startups making an impact on the infrastructure, Texas also needs to continue to leverage its existing infrastructure and industries as assets and resources. Texas has all of the necessary support systems in place already, so advertising this and displaying our current technical know-how will be crucial in the building of the space industry. Furthermore, there is also the opportunity for international partnerships facilitated through Texas. Through agreements with United States allies in areas like vertical launch and other foreign needs, Texas is aiming to be a crucial part of the space industry not only in the US but in the world. These partnerships and deals are likely to be accomplished due to the facilitation and authority provided by the establishment of the Texas Space Commission.

Finally, I asked James if he could share any advice for individuals from all different backgrounds looking to get involved with the space industry. James explained that all it takes is finding the area in the industry that is “geared towards what your interests and background are.” You don’t have to be an engineer with technical knowledge to get involved; there are areas in space exploration dealing with policy, marketing, legal components, and so many more. The space industry is and will continue to be bigger than any individual, so it is a matter of finding where your passion fits in and determining how you can impact the industry and meet its critical needs. The first step he recommends is to “get involved with the community and what’s around you.” Space is for everyone, and anyone with passion and enthusiasm can make a difference for the better.

Interviewing James was a great experience. Hearing his insights into the industry and gaining a deeper understanding of his roles was an amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing what TexSpace will continue to do for the space industry in Texas and to seeing what the future holds for James.