TGCC Chapter Program September 2018
The Coastal Spine Project for Storm Surge Protection in the Galveston Bay Region.
Arriving at a design solution for the coastal spine project was performed within a complex stakeholder environment including significant interests from the petro-chemical and maritime industries, tourism, and area residents. Naturally the design trades include competing technical approaches and then add to that the complexity of our political system and funding authorities. In this environment, the project has progressed through the concept development stage to a preliminary design. With the complexity of this broad reaching project much of the process can be related to a Systems Engineering V-Model. For instance, operational needs assessment, concept of operations, and operational requirements studies were used to arrive at the current project definition. Please join Bob Mitchell, the President of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership as he describes the process used to arrive at the current coastal spine approach and give us insight into the projects future.
BOB MITCHELL - President, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
Bob Mitchell joined the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership in 2001 to direct the organization’s Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program. In 2007 he was assigned responsibility for BAHEP’s day-to-day operations and became president in January 2008. As BAHEP president, Mitchell has taken a leadership role in numerous initiatives affecting Bay Area Houston which have included recovery efforts following Hurricane Ike; working to reinstate adequate funding, through the NASA Reauthorization Act, for NASA’s human spaceflight program; meetings that assisted in the passing of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Act, which had a huge impact on the region; and, since 2009, ongoing advocacy to build a coastal spine to protect the upper Texas Gulf Coast from hurricane storm surge.
Mitchell believes in giving back to the community and has actively donated his time in many capacities. In recognition of his work and partnerships on behalf of NASA Johnson Space Center, its many contractor companies and the Houston Airport System, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Mitchell to the Texas Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee where he is currently serving his third term. Mitchell also serves on numerous boards including that of the Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, UTMB Health System Advisory Board, Board of Visitors at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Manned Spaceflight Education Foundation, Inc., HCA Gulf Coast Regional Advisory Board, the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Board of Advisors, and Gulf Coast Limestone, Inc.
Prior to joining BAHEP, key elements of Mitchell’s work experience were gained during 15 years at Grumman Aerospace Corporation. As an executive, he directed all production, process engineering and material operations for the Houston facility of this Fortune 500 company.
Mitchell’s background also includes serving as vice president and general manager for two international subsea companies, Unitech and ASEP.
Mitchell has three sons and a grandson. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf.