Space Florida’s interim CEO draws praise
Orlando Sentinel
Space Florida’s board of directors on Monday selected Brevard County space consultant Frank DiBello to be acting president of the state’s troubled aerospace development body for the next 90 days while they organize a search for a permanent president.
Space Florida prepares to select interim president
Orlando Sentinel
Space Florida will convene a special board of directors meeting at the Capitol in Tallahassee next Monday (May 18) to select an interim president following the resignation last week of former president Steve Kohler.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Space Florida President Steve Kohler, under fire for months for alleged mismanagement, has stepped down:
Space Florida’s president Steve Kohler has resigned his $175,000-a-year post and is walking the halls of NASA headquarters at Kennedy Space Center saying goodbye.
Kottkamp: ‘Stay tuned’ on Space Florida front
Orlando Sentinel
Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who heads the board of Brevard-based Space Florida, said Wednesday to “stay tuned” for potential changes to be made at the maligned economic development agency tasked with transitioning the state’s economy into the post-space shuttle world.
Citing an “economic calamity” that Florida’s Space Coast is facing as NASA winds down its shuttle program, the Orlando Sentinel is urging Gov. Charlie Crist to replace Space Florida President Steve Kohler.
Space Florida keeps its full $3.8M budget
Orlando Sentinel
Sen. Mike Fasano backed off his threat to strip Space Florida of nearly half its $3.8million state appropriation Thursday, saying he thought the agency understood his opposition to the nearly $300,000 it spent on lobbyists last year.
In a letter to Space Florida stakeholders, President Steve Kohler disputed an Orlando Sentinel story claiming that his agency is not making any progress on a commercial launch facility at Cape Canaveral. He also accused the newpaper of running a campaign to discredit his agency.
On Tuesday, embattled Space Florida President Steve Kohler discussed his organization’s achievements and future goals as part of a 5-member panel at the 9th Annual State of the Ports event.
SPACE FLORIDA PRESS RELEASE
Last week House of Representative’s Speaker Pro-tempore, Representative Larry Cretul, named Representative Ralph Poppell to Space Florida’s Board of Directors.
The Honorable Ralph Poppell, who has served the Florida House of Representatives since 2002, represents District 29 which includes the Titusville/Indian River area of the Space Coast.
Space Florida’s President tries to build bridges with critics
Orlando Sentinel
Space Florida President Steve Kohler — under fire from legislators and space boosters for his group’s checkered record of business development — is trying to enlist the help of his critics in the aerospace community to improve the agency’s image and effectiveness.
Lawmakers to Space Florida: $43M request won’t fly
Orlando Sentinel
On Thursday, the chairman of a key state Senate committee said he would push to freeze about $10 million in public financing intended to help build the commercial-launch complex.
Space Florida agrees to freeze launch complex spending
Orlando Sentinel
The chairman of a state Senate committee reviewing Space Florida’s work said Thursday he would push to freeze about $10 million in public financing intended to help build a much-heralded commercial launch complex at Cape Canaveral.
Firm’s achievements will ensure state’s status as industry leader
Op-Ed, Orlando Sentinel
By Steve Kohler
President, Space Florida
It is unfortunate the Orlando Sentinel chose to print a one-sided article about Space Florida on Sunday (“Critics blast Space Florida as $50M waste”). The article failed the readers and the aerospace industry when it neglected to mention any of the achievements made in ensuring Florida remains a vital space leader for the future.
SPACE FLORIDA PRESS RELEASE
Space Florida’s efforts to secure licenses for two launch sites has been significantly streamlined by quick approval by the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation of Space Florida’s request to consolidate FAA Launch Site Operator license applications.
