Casper is hosting NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin, among other big aerospace and defense industry names. The companies are attending the second Aerospace and Defense Industry Conferencein the city.
Advance Casper President Justin Farley said the idea is to develop mid-level relationships in this industry to help diversify the city's economy.
"If we can build relationships with companies that are currently helping NASA or helping the DoD (Department of Defense) in these missions, and we can be a part - like, literally develop a component to or a part of an overall mission - in support of that, I think that helps us get our foot into the door of an industry that is growing wildly," Farley said.
In his opinion, this industry is a natural choice for Casper because there is a lot of fabrication in steel and other metal work that is needed in the aerospace and defense industry. Casper already has a lot of companies that can meet that need.
Farley said, in addition, there's space around the airport for companies to relocate and expand. The conference is bringing in representatives from Wyoming companies already in this industry that will participate in a Q&A for other companies that might be interested in getting started in the state.
Major players in the industry will speak during the conference, including NASA, speaking on its Artemis missions to return humans to the moon, and Colonel Catherine Bridgerton, commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, on what it needs help with from the private sector. Gov. Mark Gordon and Sen. Cynthia Lummis will also speak at the conference.
