[Thad]’s the best advocate for space in the Florida Legislature. –State Senator Mike Fasano [Florida Today, 5/1/2009]

Thad Altman has been a dependable friend of aerospace workers and their families. As a County Commissioner, State Representative and now Senator, Thad has reached out to industry leaders and agency heads to secure funding for projects and bring new employers to East Central Florida, creating jobs throughout the Space Coast. Thad currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Space Caucus in the Florida Legislature, where he and fellow legislators are coming together to offer legislation to provide tax incentives and reform regulations to bring new aerospace and high-paying tech jobs to East Central Florida in the post-Space Shuttle era. Thad is on the front line of the fight to bring and keep space jobs and research programs in the Space Coast.

Economic & Industry Incentives

Thad Altman has a strong record of collaborating with business leaders in the aerospace industry to achieve real results for the Space Coast.  He will continue to reach out to this important community to overcome the challenges ahead. Thad sponsored a bill in 2006 to provide tax exemptions for very light jets.  This tax exemption encouraged companies like Brazil’s Embraer to come to Melbourne and build jets.  Thad also sponsored a bill that expanded an existing economic incentive program to include commercial space businesses.  Both of these initiatives encouraged the business community to come to Florida and stay in our state.  This brings jobs and services here and retains more money in our economy, rather than sending profits to other states.

Thad Altman’s Leadership

Thad Altman serves on the Space Florida Board of Supervisors and the Workforce Florida Board of Directors.  These years of experience have given Thad a strong relationship with the space industry and a better understanding of aerospace workers by listening to the needs of business partners.  As a State Representative he worked with Space Florida and House leadership to secure $14.5 million in launch pad infrastructure improvements for the next generation of launch vehicles at Launch Complex 36. With NASA’s plan to retire the Space Shuttle Fleet in 2010, Thad Altman looked ahead to the future, cosponsoring a bill in 2006 to bring $35 million to assist in the development of the new Crew Exploration Vehicle.

Expanding Aerospace Research and Development to Schools and Universities

Thad Altman supports partnering our business community with academic institutions to make Florida a leader in research and development. The University of Central Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology and other universities would be well-served to work together on research efforts to develop new lucrative technologies right here in East Central Florida.  Not only would this put Florida on the cutting-edge of 21st scientific research, it would also reduce transportation costs by streamlining research, development, production and assembly of materials in the state.

Thad Altman understands that Florida’s students and future scientists must have opportunities to build knowledge and develop skills to become better workers.  This year, Thad Altman worked to obtain a $500,000 allocation for an educational pilot program.  The Governor’s School for Space, Science and Technology provides a cutting-edge environment for gifted high school students to come to the Kennedy Space Center and study math, science and engineering alongside NASA scientists.