XCOR’s Gibson nominated for DoD position

XCOR Aerospace President and CEO James H. “Jay” Gibson II has been nominated deputy chief management officer for the Department of Defense.

President Donald Trump’s administration announced the nomination late Friday and on Monday announced that the nominations of Gibson and 10 others had been sent to the Senate for approval.

In the past, Gibson had served as the assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management/comptroller and CFO, as well as deputy undersecretary of defense for management reform, according the White House’s initial press release. He took his position with XCOR in March 2015.

The deputy chief management officer, or DCMO, was established by Congress in 2007 as an undersecretary of defense-level position, according to the office’s website. In 2008, the DoD formally chartered the Office of the DCMO to better synchronize, integrate and coordinate the business operations of the department and ensure optimal alignment in support of the warfighting mission.

XCOR is a Midland-headquartered aerospace company that develops rocket engine systems and components. Its most notable project is development of the Lynx spaceplane, a reusable spacecraft that takes off and lands horizontally from a runway. XCOR is located at Midland Spaceport Business Park at Midland International Air & Space Port.