OUR MISSION

To provide novel educational experiences and hands on training for students, veterans, and aspiring
entrepreneurs that will create and accelerate the growth of an innovation ecosystem
in Brownsville, Texas with emphasis on space and energy technologies.

STAFFBOARDADVISORS

OUR STAFF

Dr. Fredrick Jenet

Executive Director

Dr. Fredrick Jenet is the founder and executive director of Expanding Frontiers, a nonprofit organization based in Brownsville, Texas, with a mission to foster the growth of a commercial space ecosystem. Dr. Jenet is an experienced entrepreneur, visionary researcher, and innovative educator, having founded several initiatives in Texas that are fostering the development of a state and national ecosystem for space exploration and commercialization. He is the founder of the Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s first center of excellence, as well as STARGATE, a NewSpace technology development program with facilities at the Boca Chica launch complex in South Texas. 

He is also the founder of Rockets and Rigs, an academic/industry/government collaboration working to solve common problems and challenges in both the space development and energy sectors. Dr. Jenet graduated from MIT with an S.B. in Physics in 1993 and obtained his PhD in physics from Caltech in 2001. He was a senior research scientist at Schlumberger Doll research laboratory and a Postdoctoral Scholar at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Dr. Louis Dartez

Dr. Louis Dartez is a highly driven entrepreneur who has participated in various academic, entrepreneurial, and non-profit organizations in a leading or advisory capacity. At Expanding Frontiers, Louis has remained a leading force of Space Coders program, Space Internships program, and lab space. He holds a doctorate degree in applied physics from the University of Texas at Arlington. The focus of his thesis work was the development and commissioning of the Low Frequency All Sky Monitor with the Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). 

Mayra Delgado, M.B.A.

EIRA Coordinator

Mayra currently serves as coordinator for the Entrepreneur in Residence Apprenticeship (EIRA) Program and is part of the educational outreach team. As a Brownsville native, Ms. Delgado is passionate about exposing local students in opportunities in the emerging space ecosystem of South Texas through ExF’s educational programs such as Space Entrepreneur Summer Academy (SESA) and the Space Settlement Design Tournaments (SSDT). Ms. Delgado obtained an M.B.A. from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Alma miller

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andy miller

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Anabel Alegria

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Marcela Ronquillo

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Ben Neece

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MENTORS & ADVISORS

Jane Lea hicks

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fredrick jenet

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alma miller

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sean casey

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nick tillmann

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Rob dushek

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