MUSTANG, Okla. –– Brian Hill is helping power Oklahoma’s aerospace boom by connecting education with industry. His initiative aims to create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs and keep Oklahoma talent in-state.

Hill took to the pages of the Tulsa World to highlight the aerospace program's success and outlined his plan to further economic growth.

By: Representative Brian Hill

Tulsa World

Aerospace is Oklahoma’s second-largest economic sector, generating billions for our economy and employing tens of thousands of Oklahomans. It’s a sector that not only drives economic growth but also provides high-paying, highly skilled jobs that support Oklahoma families.

To keep this industry thriving into tomorrow and beyond, we must ensure our young generation is inspired and ready for the opportunities ahead. We must build clear pathways from the classroom to the cockpit, the control tower, the hangar floor and beyond into careers. If we want Oklahoma students to follow these opportunities confidently, we must expose them to the possibilities early and provide the education and training to help them succeed.

The Oklahoma Aviation Academy is a shining example of what’s possible when education and industry work hand in hand. This first-of-its-kind, aviation-focused charter school offers high school students the chance to learn through an aerospace-centered curriculum. Students go beyond the textbooks and study core subjects through the lens of aviation while gaining hands-on experience in the field. This year, for example, students are working together to build an actual airplane from the ground up. Imagine being 16 years old and working side by side with professionals to construct something that will one day take flight! That’s the kind of practical, confidence-building experience that will set these students apart.

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the academy’s facilities, meet its dedicated educators and see firsthand the outstanding work of these students. I joined in celebrating the groundbreaking of their new, state-of-the-art facility, which will expand opportunities for even more students. The talent and ambition I witnessed gave me great confidence in Oklahoma’s future and in our ability to lead the nation in aerospace innovation.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has worked hard to strengthen both our aerospace sector and the talent pipeline that sustains it. We’ve supported education programs, fostered public-private partnerships and advanced workforce training initiatives that align with industry needs. Our goal is simple: keep Oklahoma talent in Oklahoma jobs. Whenever we remove a barrier to training or modernize curriculum to reflect real-world demands, we strengthen both our workforce and our economy.

It starts with strong connections. Local partnerships are the backbone of this work. When industry leaders, educators and community stakeholders work together, they can align curriculum with the skills employers are actually looking for. Employers get a steady stream of skilled candidates, students get mentorship and real-world exposure and communities benefit from the economic ripple effect of good-paying jobs staying close to home. The Oklahoma Aviation Academy embodies this collaborative approach, and it’s a model I’d like to see replicated in other key industries so more young Oklahomans can see a future for themselves right here.

Here’s the truth: investing in aerospace education isn’t just about the students who will one day pilot planes or design aircraft. It’s about engineers who will invent safer systems, technicians who will keep our fleets running and entrepreneurs who will launch new businesses. It’s about Oklahoma claiming its place as a national leader in aerospace innovation and holding it for generations.

We have a rare opportunity ahead of us. The horizon is bright for aerospace in our state, but it will only stay that way if we keep working together to ensure the next generation has every tool they need to succeed. Let’s keep building Oklahoma strong and charting a course toward even greater opportunity for the next generation.

The future of flight in Oklahoma isn’t just something we watch from the ground. It’s something we can build, together, starting now.

Rep. Brian Hill, a Republican, represents House District 47 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and is running for Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor. He chairs the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee.