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There’s an old saying that opportunity knocks once. Right now, the future isn’t just knocking; it is practically kicking down the door, and that future is space. Miami-Dade County must seize this future to become an epicenter for aviation and aerospace. We are well positioned to lead the way, and now is the time to go all in and open the door to this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
But before we can lead in aerospace, we must invest in what powers every leap forward. Education and training are the foundation of our strategy, not an afterthought.
Aviation and aerospace are not just science fiction. They are economic engines that will drive the next chapter of American innovation. The global aerospace market is projected to reach $1 trillion in the next five years. Miami-Dade must build a support ecosystem rooted in talent, training, and vision.
Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing are not just looking for places to launch rockets. They need skilled workers, manufacturing capacity, research institutions, and infrastructure. Miami-Dade has the foundations to provide all of it.gonzalegonz
Our greatest asset is the education and training ecosystem already at work. KTMB, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS), Miami Dade College, Florida International University, and the University of Miami are essential precursors to any aerospace boom in Miami-Dade.
I have led the way to make Miami Executive Airport, KTMB, in West Kendall a training hub for a future-ready workforce. Miami-Dade County Public Schools plan to break ground on a new George T. Baker Aviation Technical College. I graduated from George T. Baker, so I have seen how this free public school leads to in-demand jobs—without student loans.
Baker will join BITTS and Miami Dade College’s Eig-Watson School of Aviation to give students technical training and job-ready skills at KTMB. Providing this workforce training is not about creating a few jobs. It is about tens of thousands of high-paying, future-proof careers, again with little to no student debt.
Make no mistake. Economic growth follows education. Our training investments are not a detour. They are the direct path to high-wage, high-tech careers.
For those pursuing higher education, the University of Miami and FIU are graduating scientists, innovators, and engineers. FIU’s new president, Jeannette Nuñez, is the chair of Space Florida, aligning higher education with the aerospace economy.
This strategy works because our geography and infrastructure already support it. Schools and training centers are embedded in West Kendall’s transit and economic footprint, linking education to industry development.
KTMB has the advantage of being near Homestead Air Force Base, already designated as a Florida spaceport. Homestead’s military-grade infrastructure can scale quickly. Clustering these opportunities in West Kendall and South Dade can use Urban Expansion Area land to bring jobs to underserved communities and help relieve traffic.
West Kendall and South Dade also connect to a rail and highway network that stretches to Central Florida and Cape Canaveral. This connectivity will be crucial if Florida becomes NASA’s headquarters. I am working with U.S. Senators Ashley Moody, Rick Scott, and Congressman Mike Haridopolos to make that happen.
Aviation and aerospace represent more than industries. They are paths to human advancement. We support the Supersonic Aviation Modernization (SAM Act) with Congressman Troy Nehls and Senator Ted Budd to allow supersonic flight in the U.S. Miami-Dade should build and maintain hypersonic planes that can cut travel time from Miami to Los Angeles to under two hours. The rise of eVTOLs and drones positions us at the center of future travel innovation.
I know past leaders have chased shiny objects only to see them fizzle. This time, we must be strategic. If we do not plan for the future, we get left in the past. Miami-Dade was once a leader in aviation. Think of Pan Am and Eastern Airlines. Even Howard Hughes lived in Miami. We let that leadership slip away. We cannot let it happen again.
We have a chance to lead by betting on a future where aviation and aerospace redefine our role in global connectivity. We have the vision, the people, the location, and the opportunity. Miami-Dade County is already a gateway to the world. Let us become a gateway to the stars.
Roberto J. Gonzalez is the Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 11 and the Safety and Health Committee Chairman, representing the greater West Kendall area. He and his wife, Jessyca, are the proud parents of three daughters: Skye, Ava, and Leah.
