The Dee Howard Foundation names workforce development leader as new Executive Director
San Antonio, TX – March 13, 2025 – The Dee Howard Foundation, whose mission is to connect young people in the San Antonio region to careers in aerospace, has named Christopher Mammen its new Executive Director. Mammen brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership, workforce development, strategic partnership-building, and a deep commitment to strengthening economic mobility for residents in the San Antonio community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Christopher as our new executive director,” said Tyler Schroeder, Chairman of The Dee Howard Foundation Board of Directors. “Christopher’s extensive background in workforce development and his track record of successful collaborations with community partners make him the ideal person to lead the foundation into its next era, as we reach beyond the K-12 community to support post-secondary training and reskilling opportunities for the existing workforce.”
Since 2013, The Dee Howard Foundation has served thousands of students at over a dozen school districts in the Bexar County region through innovative curriculum partnerships between industry and the classroom.
Mammen’s previous roles have focused on fostering collaboration between workforce agencies and the private sector. He was instrumental in launching the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management workforce model in the San Antonio region, which has been critical to ensuring that the region’s workforce development strategies align with the needs of local industries, creating pathways and bridging the educational gap to high-quality, high-paying jobs for all students and job seekers.
Established in 2013, The Dee Howard Foundation, named after the San Antonio aviation legend, is dedicated to preserving San Antonio’s rich aviation history while nurturing future innovators in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The organization works in partnership with hundreds of area schools and nonprofit organizations across the San Antonio region to ensure that all young people have access to STEM programming, through its pre-K-12 initiative, drone program and the Dee Howard Memorial Aerospace Engineering Certificate at University of Texas at San Antonio, which offers students the foundational knowledge necessary for successful careers in the aerospace industry.
“As I take on this new role, I am inspired by the legacy of Dee Howard, the importance of aerospace and aeronautics in our region, and the incredible opportunities before us,” said Mammen. “I believe a focus on STEM education and workforce development partnerships will provide San Antonio’s students and job seekers the tools they need to succeed in tomorrow’s economy, from traditional aeronautics to new opportunities in space exploration, artificial intelligence, and beyond.”
About The Dee Howard Foundation
The Mission of The Dee Howard Foundation is to honor San Antonio’s aviation and aerospace history and to nurture our innovators of the future. We seek to inspire, challenge and empower innovators in these fields while helping to train a skilled workforce for the San Antonio, Texas region while being open to expanding our programming beyond this region in the future. Educational focus has primarily been on Pre-K thru 12 underserved students and first-generation college students through the Dee Howard Foundation Pre-K thru 12 Aeronautical STEM Pathway Initiative.
Contact:
Christopher Mammen
Executive Director
The Dee Howard Foundation
www.deehoward.org
“I believe a focus on STEM education and workforce development partnerships will provide San Antonio’s students and job seekers the tools they need to succeed in tomorrow’s economy, from traditional aeronautics to new opportunities in space exploration, artificial intelligence, and beyond.”
Christopher Mammen
