How is Space Florida planning to attract small satellite launchers, and what initiatives have been taken in this regard?: CEO Frank DiBello's salary was increased to $325,000. The state agency on Tuesday also moved ahead with efforts to attract small satellite launchers.
Growth in space launches and manufacturing around Cape Canaveral earned Space Florida’s top two executives substantial raises Tuesday, as the agency continued its efforts to attract more launches.
The board of the state’s aerospace economic development agency unanimously approved increasing CEO Frank DiBello’s salary to $325,000, up 21 percent, and Executive Vice President Howard Haug’s salary to $275,000, up 37 percent.
Neither had received pay increases since 2013, and Space Florida does not offer performance bonuses.
Dymond cited wins including the Blue Origin rocket factory and OneWeb Satellites manufacturing facility nearing completion in the state-run Exploration Park at Kennedy Space Center.
The state has also helped Boeing modernize former shuttle hangars at Kennedy Space Center for assembly of the CST-100 Starliner crew capsule and processing of the Air Force's X-37B space plane. It has also taken over management of NASA's former shuttle runway. And SpaceX plans to expand its facilities.
The raises put DiBello and Haug, who manage a budget including $18.5 million in state funding and a staff of 47, among the county’s highest-paid government officials.
To cite a few examples, Port Canaveral director John Murray earns $364,000. Eastern Florida State College president James Richey makes $323,260. Lynda Weatherman, CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, collected nearly $290,000 in 2016, including bonuses, according to IRS forms.
Some others: New Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Mullins earns $210,000, before bonuses; Brevard County manager Frank Abbate is paid $194,767; and KSC Director Bob Cabana, a former shuttle commander, makes $167,000.
Space Florida is a for-profit public corporation whose portfolio is difficult to compare to other state agencies, board members said. A compensation study by Harrington and Associates compared the executives’ salaries to those at seaports and at financial institutions and private companies that could potentially lure away their talents.
The new salaries are 91 percent of the top pay in the range established by the study.
“We’re really trying to set the table for the future, looking ahead and making sure that we retain top talent, that we remain competitive,” said Dymond.
- Launch Complex 20: Space Florida will start negotiations to take over control of the former Titan launch complex from the Air Force’s 45th Space Wing, with the goal of attracting multiple launchers of small satellites.
Examples could include Rocket Lab, which is expected to select a U.S. launch site soon, or Firefly Aerospace.
- Launch Complex 41: Space Florida will contribute up to $10 million over two years, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation, to help United Launch Alliance upgrade the complex for Atlas V and Vulcan rocket launches.
The state said ULA planned to spend $135 million on the modifications, which include preparing the site for launches of astronauts to the International Space Station in Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsules.
According to ULA, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture, the work will help retain 140 jobs paying annual salaries averaging $105,000.
“We’re extending its life and revitalizing it for a next generation of space activity that could be 10 to 20 launches at this site alone,” said DiBello.
- Blue Origin factory: The state will support an expansion of Blue Origin’s planned work at Exploration Park, which now will also include refurbishing reusable rocket engines.
Space Florida will increase its contribution of related FDOT funds from $3.4 million to $4.4 million. Blue Origin, meanwhile, will increase its own investment from $40 million to $60 million. The company says the expansion will create 50 jobs paying annual wages of $95,000.
- Helium pipeline: Again with an assist from FDOT, the state will fund a $10 million, 7.3-mile extension of a pipeline providing gaseous helium to multiple launch complexes, which Space Florida said is necessary to continue growth in commercial launches.
The extension will run from Launch Complex 37 along ICBM row to Launch Complex 46.
The state spending requires a private investment of at least $10 million, to be made by Blue Origin, which will launch New Glenn orbital rockets from Launch Complex 36.
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