Keynote: Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas featuring SpaceX

Gilberto Salinas, President and CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC), is often credited as one of the primary architects of Brownsville's space economy. His work with SpaceX spans over 15 years, from the initial recruitment phase to the current oversight of its massive industrial expansion. 

In 2011, Salinas was one of the first local officials to receive a call from SpaceX (then a relatively unknown startup) inquiring about a potential launch site. As the lead for the Brownsville Economic Development Council (BEDC), he spearheaded the years-long effort to pitch Brownsville against dozens of other global candidates.

After returning to lead GBIC in late 2024, Salinas has focused on managing the "economic locomotive" that SpaceX has become. He recently reported that SpaceX is currently making an additional $650 million capital investment at Starbase for projects like the "Gigabay" production facility. Salinas acts as a bridge between SpaceX and local educational institutions to ensure a "human pipeline" of talent. He recently highlighted that roughly 83% of SpaceX's local workforce is hired from the Rio Grande Valley, a metric he actively monitors and promotes to regional partners. A major part of his current work involves recruiting the massive supply chain needed to support SpaceX. He frequently advises other regional EDCs to prepare for "just-in-time" delivery needs from suppliers that must be located within a two-hour radius of Starbase.

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Salinas to the Texas Aerospace & Aviation Advisory Committee. In this role, he advocates for state-level policies and infrastructure funding (like the Spaceport Trust Fund) to support the continued growth of the industry in South Texas. In March 2026, Salinas revealed new details about upcoming developments at Starbase, including the planned construction of a Tesla-themed diner to serve the thousands of employees now working at the site.