SM 30
Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
A MEMORIAL
EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO LONNIE SUMPTER FOR
HIS CONTRIBUTION TO NEW MEXICO'S FUTURE IN SPACE
COMMERCIALIZATION AND DECLARING FEBRUARY 16, 2007
"LONNIE SUMPTER DAY" AT THE SENATE.
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter graduated from Oklahoma state
university with a degree in mechanical engineering and was
employed by the army depot in Pueblo, Colorado, as an
engineering intern; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter was employed at White Sands
missile range, where he was eventually promoted to senior
project engineer; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter was recruited by the Coleman
Research corporation to develop its test and evaluation
business in southern New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter was a founder of General
Kinematics corporation; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter played a key role in organizing
the southwest regional space task force, which charted the
early path for New Mexico in the realm of commercial space;
and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter was appointed executive director
of the New Mexico office of space commercialization but had
to leave his position due to illness; and
pg_0002
SM 30
Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter continued to make an invaluable
contribution to New Mexico's commercial space program with
his innovative systems engineering approach to flight safety
analyses in support of reusable launch operations, as well as
his presentations on the unlimited possibilities for
New Mexico in commercial space; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter was appointed to New Mexico's
military base planning commission and personally developed a
description of New Mexico's military advantages, which was
included in the state's presentation to the United States
department of defense base realignment and closure commission
in support of saving Cannon air force base during the base
realignment and closure round in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter was appointed director of New
Mexico's spaceport authority, where he worked closely with
the rocket racing league, UP Aerospace and Virgin Galactic
corporation and provided outstanding executive leadership to
New Mexico's commercial spaceport program; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter, as director of the spaceport
authority, worked diligently on planning, environmental
review and licensing for New Mexico's commercial spaceport
program; and
WHEREAS, Lonnie Sumpter, as director of the spaceport
authority, presented an inspiring vision of the economic
benefits of New Mexico's spaceport through his numerous
pg_0003
SM 30
Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
presentations to civic, cultural, professional and
educational groups;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that sincere appreciation and gratitude
be expressed to Lonnie Sumpter for his significant
contribution to New Mexico's future in space
commercialization and for his love for the New Mexico
spaceport program and that February 16, 2007 be declared
"Lonnie Sumpter Day" at the senate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to Lonnie Sumpter.