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Spaceport director submits his resignation
Steve Landeene
New Mexico Spaceport Authority Executive Director Steve Landeene is leaving his job after more than two years in the post.
Landeene led the authority through the final steps of securing a commercial spaceport license and other approvals needed to ensure that Spaceport America becomes a reality.
The final step was securing legislative approval earlier this year for a bill requiring that passengers sign a waiver agreeing to hold companies harmless before traveling into space from the Southern New Mexico spaceport.
“With the Spaceflight Informed Consent Act signed into law on February 27th, the last major element solidifying Spaceport America reality has been accomplished,” Landeene wrote in his resignation letter.
“I now have a need to regain some work/life balance that can not be accomplished given the current stresses and time commitments of the Spaceport America Executive Director role,” he wrote.
Landeene, who was hired in January 2008, submitted his resignation on Friday. It’s effective May 15.
“We appreciate Steve’s service and wish him well in the future,” Fred Mondragón, chairman of the Spaceport Authority and secretary of economic development, said in a news release. “The authority will move aggressively to find a replacement and move forward with the construction schedule for Spaceport America.”
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This is a tremendous loss for New Mexico. Steve Landeene has done an incredible job working to turn the promise of Spaceport America into a reality. From building the Spaceport within the budget, to securing business arrangements with Virgin Galactic and others, he has shown to be a highly competent professional who is truly on the cutting edge of the emerging market of space commercialization. I also have to compliment the job Mr. Landeene and his team did working with the Legislature this last legislative session. They were patient, tireless, and focused on passing legislation to position our spaceport nationally for success. While this legislation’s fate was looking grim, Steve worked through the challenges to get it passed.
I can only compliment Steve for the job he has done and wish him well in his future.
He has set the bar incredibly high for his replacement, and I hope the standard of excellence and results he achieved will be the standard the Governor employs in finding his replacement. It will not be easy to do.