Roswell Aviation and Aerospace Sector is Flying High

This region is a thriving hub, thanks to the Roswell Air Center and a strong pipeline of talent from local educational initiatives.

By Teree Caruthers on December 12, 2023

Nathan Lambrecht

Roswell-Chaves County has emerged as a thriving hub for the aerospace and aviation industry, and one of the key drivers of that success is the Roswell Air Center, a sprawling facility that serves as a vital aviation hub, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure, runways and maintenance facilities.

The air center attracts major airlines, cargo operators and private jet companies, providing them with unparalleled access to global markets, and also serves as a testing ground for new aircraft models. To keep a pipeline of talent flowing to the air center and supporting industries, the region’s schools, colleges and universities have launched programs to prepare students for these in-demand jobs. 

Powerful Partnerships 

The New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), a public military junior college and high school, partners with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to engage cadets in an aviation technical management program. Cadets who enroll in the program can have their classes counted toward college credit. 

“We have several programs that help to move cadets into the world of aviation. First, we have a robust Aviation Club that meets weekly and visits aviation-related sites,” says Col. Orlando Griego, chief academic officer and dean of academics for NMMI. “We also have a commissioning and U.S. military academy preparatory program where cadets can focus on becoming future pilots. We also have a relationship with Eastern New Mexico University at Roswell for our cadets to transition into an aircraft maintenance program.” 

Griego says NMMI offers more than 550 courses, including career-focused areas such as pre-nursing, pre-engineering, STEM-related focuses and military education. 

“NMMI has a strong school-to-work philosophy. … Cadets are expected to be proficient in work-related skills such as written and verbal communication, critical thinking, information literacy, working together, applying technology, self-development, and leadership. Because of that, our students are very well prepared for the world of work,” Griego says. 

Smart Starts

Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell (ENMU-R) offers a program in aviation maintenance technology and is the only FAA Part 147 Airframe and Powerplant program in southeast New Mexico. 

“Students can earn the powerplant certificate and then go to work in aircraft maintenance repair while they’re continuing to go to school to get the airframe certificate,” says Dr. Shawn Powell, ENMU-R president. 

With a nationwide shortage of aviation maintenance technicians, the program helps meet demand locally – beginning with career exploration at the high school level. 

“We have summer camps for local school kids and a drone program that’s open to the community,” says Chris Bullard, director for workforce development and community development at ENMU. “Some of our Early College High School students are … building airplanes in the flight club as well as learning the workings of drones and remote piloting.” 

The Early College program offers dual enrollment between ENMU and the Roswell Independent School District and it allows students to earn high school and college credit. 

“We implemented a high school redesign where we started exposing students to career pathways,” says Superintendent Brian Luck. “By the time they get to high school, they have an idea of the pathway they want to explore. When they graduate, they have a plan … rather than starting from scratch.” 

NMMI Sports Press

These Broncos Are Soaring, Too!

Founded in 1891 and located in downtown Roswell, New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) is a public military junior college and high school that enrolls nearly 1,000 cadets each year. Notable NMMI alumni include NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, actor Owen Wilson, hotel magnate Conrad Hilton and longtime ABC news anchor Sam Donaldson. 

Along with its academic accomplishments, NMMI has enjoyed several sports successes. That includes the NMMI Broncos winning the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Football Championship, with former NMMI player Kurt Taufa’asau serving as head coach of the Broncos football team. 

“We always seem to have good coaches to lead our teams in the eight total sports we have on the junior college level and the 16 sports we offer on the high school level,” says Geoffrey Ginn, NMMI media relations director. 

NMMI is a bit unique because both a junior college and a high school are part of the overall campus. The junior college sports teams are the Broncos while the high school teams are the Colts, and the colors for both athletic programs are scarlet and black. 

Besides the 2021 Broncos football championship, another recent success was the Broncos women’s volleyball team earning national runner-up honors at the 2021-2022 NJCAA Championships. On the high school level, the Colts baseball team won the Class 3A State Championship in 2022, and the Colts tennis squad won the 2022 District 4-4A Championship with a 9-0 record. 

“There aren’t many top military boarding schools around anymore, and it’s unusual for them to have much sports success, but NMMI cadets are disciplined both in the classroom and in athletics,” Ginn says. “NMMI is a great place for students to excel.”