The Pedernales spaceport will require professionals from various fields.
SANTO DOMINGO. – Who is ready to go to space? with this question Burton Catledge, CEO of the American company Launch On Demand (LOD Holdings), which will install the first commercial spaceport of the country, initiated a conversation with students, teachers and authorities of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC).
He said that when presenting the proposal to President Luis AbinaderMuch of the conversation revolved around the opportunities that the commercial spaceport will have for young Dominicans, such as those who have excelled in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, who dream of going to space or working at that aerospace agency.
When dictating the conference “Dominican Republic: Latin America’s gateway to space”Catledge was emphatic: “The President is thinking of you, your talents and abilities,” and how young people will be able to work at the spaceport that will be built in the municipality of Oviedo, Pedernales province. The initiative, announced by the President of the Republic in his address to the National Assembly on February 27, would have an investment of approximately 600 million.
Catledge indicated that the project will have a high impact on tourismbecause the ports attract thousands of tourists; he also cited the creation of direct jobsThis will benefit both specialized and technical fields, and will have a significant long-term impact on the economy. Regarding career opportunities, Catledge encouraged interested parties to contact the project teams immediately, stating that he has received hundreds of resumes and job applications through various channels.
The American businessman indicated that the port construction includes a integrated energy hub, with an estimated capacity of 200 megawatts, focused on both aerospace operations and strengthening the national electricity grid.
The project also includes the development of logistical, water, and technological infrastructure, including a desalination plant and advanced noise mitigation systems for launches. Therefore, he stated, professionals from various fields will be needed to contribute their expertise to this ambitious project.
He pointed out that Oviedo's geographical location is even better than Cape Canaveral for launching rockets due to its proximity to the Equator, specifying that they can be launched in both polar and equatorial directions, he maintained.
Burton Catledge has 18 years of experience in launch, acquisition, strategy, finance, and orbital security. Prior to founding LOD Holdings, he was commander of the U.S. Air Force's 45th Operations Group, 45th Space Wing, with operations at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Kennedy Space Center.
In offering the welcoming words for the event, Shajira Nazir, Academic Vice-Rector of INTEC, said that the space industry has ceased to be a distant conversation and has become a strategic axis for economic development, technological innovation and national sovereignty.
Likewise, Luis Soto, director of the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), specified that with decree 121-26, President Luis Abinader declared the development of spaceports in Dominican territory a priority of high national interest, and therefore, an inter-institutional committee was established to be in charge of structuring a bill that establishes the necessary legal framework to regulate local space activity.
Meanwhile, Armando Díaz, head of Cybercrime at the DNI, who presented the paper “Role of the DNI in the space and cyberspace domains,” stated that the incorporation of space capabilities is positioned as a strategic axis to strengthen security, economic development, risk management, and digital inclusion through a spaceport, which will allow the Dominican Republic to improve its decision-making and resilience to global challenges.
About Launch on Demand (LOD Holdings) is a Florida-based aerospace company specializing in launch licensing, regulatory support, and technical services for space operations.