In 2019, the aerospace industry supported 4,000 jobs and created a $1.3 billion total economic output in West Virginia. A hidden gem, the Mountain State’s aerospace industry is built around access to raw materials, development assistance, education and location.
What does it take to become part of West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine’s elite history of Young Guns? It’s more than just a nomination based on career success and a dedication to community service—though these certainly factor in. It involves a heart of gold mixed with the Mountaineer spirit.
When people think of West Virginia, they often picture beautiful mountains, active coal mines and tight-knit communities. While natives know Almost Heaven is all that and more, outsiders don’t often associate the Mountain State with things like cutting-edge technology and major innovation.
It’s a drive to serve, not just simple ambition, that separates a good lawyer from a great one. From childhood dreams of helping others to sitting in a classroom learning the basics of law to realizing their calling in the legal world, great lawyers all have humble beginnings.
When Governor Jim Justice appointed Major General James Hoyer to West Virginia’s coronavirus task force, he gave him a twofold mission: find creative solutions to the state’s current problems that can also be parlayed into opportunities for the future.
A nationwide shortage of trained pilots and aviation technicians has led to a surge of development in aerospace education in West Virginia. According to a recent report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), over the past three decades, the number of pilots in the nation has decreased by 30% while the airline industry has simultaneously seen a tremendous increase in the demand for air travel.