Letter from the Incoming Chair

The BAHEP Annual Report for 2020 provides an overview of the activities pursued during a challenging year. How did the organization reach out to its membership, the community, and the industries within the region to provide assistance and valuable information during an exceptionally exhausting year? I believe you will see that BAHEP did a great job of doing just that. As the incoming chairman of BAHEP’s board, I recognize that there are many unknowns for the year ahead. So, let us look at what we know and the steps we plan to take to improve our future. future success, and BAHEP stands as a strong advocate for NASA and our region. In addition, BAHEP will spend several months in the coming year developing its 2022-2024 Strategic Plan. This plan serves as an important guidebook to which every BAHEP activity over the next three years will adhere. The Strategic Plan keeps us on course, focused, and successful.

The initial COVID-19 vaccines are in varying stages of FDA approval and deployment. It will take time to vaccinate enough of the world’s population to allow us to return to some semblance of the life we led before the pandemic, but these vaccines will provide a way forward to future endeavors. Our regional medical teams have served us all very well, and we look forward to their continued success in the coming year. Our local communities and businesses have struggled during the effects of the pandemic, and BAHEP will continue to seek connections with government and industry to enable successful outcomes. Coming from the challenges of 2020, I look forward to working with BAHEP’s board, its members, and our community partners as we tackle 2021 together. Sincerely,

Charlie Stegemoeller Senior Director, Business Development, SAIC

The 87th Texas Legislature will convene in January. Although we do not yet know the agenda and results of the session, we do know that BAHEP, along with its regional partners, will advocate on behalf of the needs of the region. This has been a constant for the organization over many years, including the vigilance over sessions to realize “the fruits of our labor”.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has announced that he will leave his post at the end of the current administration. As we have experienced, this transition to a new Administrator will take time. Our NASA community is well positioned for current and