Category Archive: News

  1. Lark Industries: Rapid Ascent in DoD and Aerospace Manufacturing

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    From El Paso to the Frontlines of Defense—Supporting DoD Missions and Made in America Goals

    Lark Industries, based in El Paso, TX, is a rising force in the aerospace, defense, and medical device manufacturing sectors. In under a year, the company has transformed from a regional manufacturer into a competitive supplier to the U.S. government and its prime contractors. Their rapid success demonstrates the critical role that agile, quality-driven small businesses play in strengthening American manufacturing and supply chain resilience.

    Winning Defense Contracts Fast—Proof of Aerospace and DoD Readiness
    Since beginning federal contract bidding in April, Lark Industries has secured multiple wins through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), including:

    • DLA Aviation / U.S. Air Force WR–ALC, Robins AFB, GA
    • DLA Aviation / Dept. of the Navy Naval Air Warfare Center
    • DLA Aviation / Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Marietta, GA
    • DLA Land and Maritime / Defense Industrial Supply Center
    • DLA Land and Maritime / U.S. Navy Ships Parts Control Center, Mechanicsburg, PA

    Lark was awarded its first contracts within just two months of entering the federal space—a testament to their readiness, quality systems, and strategic preparation. Their success reinforces the importance of nimble domestic manufacturers in delivering mission-critical parts for defense applications.

    Certifications That Opened Doors to Resilience and Growth
    Lark Industries holds the following certifications:

    • ISO 9001 – Quality Management
    • ISO 13485 – Medical Devices
    • AS9100 – Aerospace and Defense
    • CMMC Compliant – Cybersecurity

    These certifications were obtained as a direct response to supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. ISO 13485 enabled Lark to pivot into the medical device sector, maintaining business continuity. AS9100 opened doors into aerospace and defense, providing access to secure and specialized contracts with the U.S. government and its contractors. Each credential has served not just as a quality benchmark, but as a strategic gateway into stable, resilient, and growing markets.

    Getting Government-Ready: Registration Milestones
    Lark’s registration journey included:

    • gov (System for Award Management)
    • DIBBS (DLA Internet Bid Board System)
    • JCP (Joint Certification Program)

    The complete process took approximately 2.5 months and was foundational to engaging with federal opportunities.

    Building the Right Relationships for Long-Term Success
    Lark Industries recognizes the importance of collaboration for long-term growth and regional transformation. While no formal partnerships are yet in place, Lark is actively building relationships with key local stakeholders, including:

    • El Paso Makes
    • ARC Aerospace
    • Texas Workforce Solutions
    • EPISD Career and Technical Education (CTE)
    • UTEP
    • Rio Grande Council of Governments
    • Native Pathways (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo)
    • Local suppliers and workforce development programs

    These partners represent a growing support network that will help expand manufacturing capacity, grow the talent pipeline, and strengthen the defense ecosystem in West Texas.

    Creating Jobs in El Paso and Powering the Made in America Movement
    One of Lark’s core missions is to create high-paying, career-path jobs in advanced manufacturing for the El Paso region. Many UTEP graduates currently leave the area due to limited opportunities. Lark aims to reverse this trend by building a robust aerospace and defense footprint. The region’s proximity to Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range provides unique strategic advantages, making El Paso a critical node in the U.S. defense supply chain.

    This local growth also contributes to national priorities: rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity, securing the defense supply chain, and advancing the “Made in America” initiative. Every contract Lark wins helps shift manufacturing and technical expertise back to American soil—and brings high-quality jobs back to the El Paso community.

    Powered by El Paso Makes
    El Paso Makes has played a pivotal role in guiding Lark through the early stages of federal engagement. Their resources, coaching, and market intelligence have enabled faster scaling, better strategy, and stronger regional alignment. The organization serves as a cornerstone for regional innovation, ensuring that companies like Lark don’t have to navigate complex government pathways alone.

    Conclusion: A Scalable Model for Defense Manufacturing Success

    “We knew we had the talent and the quality systems—what we needed was a roadmap into the federal market. With the right support, we moved fast and proved we belong here. This is just the beginning of what El Paso manufacturers can do.”
     — Jesse Ornelas, CEO of Lark Industries

    Lark Industries is a clear example of how small manufacturers can break into federal contracting and contribute to national resilience. Through rapid execution, strategic certification, and a commitment to regional growth, Lark is poised to help position El Paso as a national leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing—while strengthening America’s supply chains one contract at a time.

    Get involved with El Paso Makes, HERE.

  2. Dr. Quintana Joins El Paso Makes as Digital Technologies Director

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    EL PASO, TX – The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) is proud to welcome Joel Quintana, Ph.D., as the Digital Technologies Director at El Paso Makes.

    A subsidiary of NCDMM, El Paso Makes was established in 2023 and services El Paso and West Texas manufacturers with access to quality suppliers, industry resources, and research to meet the demands of aerospace and defense markets. Due to the expertise and resources available through NCDMM and other El Paso partnerships such as the Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), the City of El Paso, the County of El Paso, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, the Rio Grande Council of Governments, and the El Paso Chamber, El Paso Makes is poised to mobilize the West Texas frontier into an innovative manufacturing industrial base with a skilled workforce that will ultimately bring future economic prosperity to the region.

    In his new role, Dr. Quintana is responsible for leading the El Paso Makes digital technology strategy with business objectives and designs, delivering innovative digital solutions such as applications, system architectures, and integrations. Additionally, he will oversee the operational planning and execution of complex technical programs and projects, leveraging his expertise to drive digital innovation in the aerospace industry.

    With nearly 20 years of experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, Dr. Quintana is a recognized leader in digital transformation, specializing in systems integration, testing, and evaluation. He has a proven track record in small satellite system development, offering valuable insights that drive innovation and operational effectiveness in these critical fields.

    “I am excited to join NCDMM and El Paso Makes and eager to contribute to the economic growth in the El Paso del Norte region,” Dr. Quintana said. “My vision is to position El Paso as a national leader in harnessing digital transformation to manufacture complex systems.”

    Before joining NCDMM, Dr. Quintana was the Assistant Professor of the Aerospace Center and Director of the Aeronautics and Defense Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department at UTEP. His primary concentration included leading research programs in aerospace and defense and managing a team of over 35 engineering students, faculty, and staff. His contributions significantly impacted local and regional economic development through research and university engagement, SBIR initiatives, and technology transfers. Additionally, Dr. Quintana has effectively managed industry-government partnerships and collaborations, showcasing his expertise and leadership in the field.

    “Joel’s expertise in digital engineering brings a valuable new dimension of support to NCDMM and El Paso Makes, benefiting our partners and stakeholders,” said David Espalin, Ph.D., Director, El Paso Makes. “Digital engineering adoption is essential in risk reduction across all engineering fields, and we are fortunate to have someone of Dr. Quintana’s caliber join our team.”

    Dr. Quintana’s research and development focus spans digital transformation throughout the aerospace systems life cycle, small satellite technology development, fiber Braggs gratings (FBG) sensors for structural health monitoring, and integrated air and missile defense. His work has been featured in several note-worthy industry publications and conferences.

    He received a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering from UTEP.

  3. Dr. David Espalin Named New Director at El Paso Makes

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    Dr. Espalin brings expertise in AM research and development, automation solutions

    EL PASO, TEXAS – The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and El Paso Makes are proud to welcome David Espalin, Ph.D., as the Director of El Paso Makes. He officially joined the team on September 4.

    A subsidiary of NCDMM, El Paso Makes was established in 2023 and services El Paso and West Texas manufacturers with access to quality suppliers, industry resources, and research to meet the demands of aerospace and defense markets. Before joining NCDMM, Dr. Espalin dedicated 16 years to researching and developing additive manufacturing (AM) and automation solutions for application in health, aerospace, naval, defense, and energy.

    Previously, Dr. Espalin was a tenured Associate Professor in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He developed and taught courses focused on AM while maintaining a research portfolio funded in the amount of approximately $22M (over seven years). Through these research efforts, he collaborated with organizations such as the National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy (DOE), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Lockheed Martin Corporation, Honeywell, and Raytheon.

    “I am excited to work with the highly motivated team at NCDMM and leverage my education and research background to strengthen and grow the El Paso region, its manufacturers, and suppliers to better enable their participation in defense manufacturing,” stated Dr. Espalin. “I consider it an honor to join this commitment to advancing the region’s aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing industrial base through education and workforce development, fostering business opportunities, and diversifying the nation’s defense industrial base.”

    Dr. Espalin holds a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from UTEP. His graduate studies focused on the development of hardware and software for hybrid AM technologies that combined AM with machining, ultrasonic processing, microdispensing, and electronics integration. His research is well documented through numerous patents and in high-impact academic journals (e.g., The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology and The Additive Manufacturing Journal); and has inspired work in the burgeoning area of hybrid manufacturing.

    While at UTEP, Dr. Espalin was the Director of Research for the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation – a state-of-the-art AM facility. He also held a Research Fellow appointment at the Applied Research Laboratories at The University of Texas at Austin (a Department of Defense University-Affiliated Research Center focusing on acoustics, electromagnetics, and information sciences) that fostered collaborative research in piezoceramic AM. Additionally, he served as Program Director of UTEP’s Graduate Certificate program in 3D Engineering and Additive Manufacturing focused on filling the industry’s need for a workforce with AM expertise.

    “It is a privilege to have someone of David’s caliber and educational and research background join the NCDMM and El Paso Makes team,” said Randy Gilmore, El Paso Makes President and NCDMM VP and Chief Development Officer. “With his strong ties to the region and beyond, in addition to the many relationships he has established over the years with industry stakeholders, we are confident he will make a positive impact and expand upon the work currently underway.”

    Due to the expertise and resources available through NCDMM and other El Paso partnerships including the Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at UTEP, the City of El Paso, the County of El Paso, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, the Rio Grande Council of Governments, and the El Paso Chamber, El Paso Makes is poised to mobilize the West Texas frontier into an innovative manufacturing ecosystem with a skilled workforce that will ultimately bring future economic prosperity to the region.

    To receive future email announcements about El Paso Makes, please visit www.elpasomakes.org.

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