PUERTO RICO AEROSPACE & CYBER CONVERGENCE HUB
BRIDGING WORLDS: A NEW MODEL FOR INNOVATION FROM THE CARIBBEAN
THE PRACCH DIFFERENCE
The Puerto Rico Aerospace & Cyber Convergence Hub (PRACCH) isn't just another innovation hub, accelerator, or incubator. While traditional models focus on building startups within established industries, PRACCH is pioneering a fundamentally different approach:
We don't accelerate within industries—we bridge between them.
PRACCH specializes in the critical intersection between aerospace and cybersecurity—two domains that desperately need integration but typically operate in separate worlds with different languages, priorities, and approaches.
How We're Different:
- Cross-Domain Expertise: Unlike vertical accelerators that deepen expertise in a single industry, PRACCH cultivates horizontal expertise across aerospace and cybersecurity domains
- Systems Integration Focus: We prioritize the connections between systems rather than just the systems themselves
- Neutral Convening Power: We bring together stakeholders who would rarely collaborate in traditional settings
- Translation Services: We help aerospace experts understand cybersecurity requirements and help cyber professionals grasp aviation and space contexts
- Cultural Bridge-Building: We connect different professional cultures, regulatory environments, and innovation approaches
LEADERSHIP THROUGH CONNECTION
Our founder doesn't claim deep technical expertise in either aerospace or cybersecurity—and that's precisely our strength.
Meet José Figueroa:
- Professional Bridge-Builder: With 25+ years of experience managing complex, cross-sector ventures
- Venture Development Expert: Successfully launched and scaled ventures across diverse industries
- Complexity Navigator: Specializes in creating coherence from chaos in regulatory-heavy environments
- Network Orchestrator: Excels at identifying and connecting complementary capabilities across organizational boundaries
- Puerto Rico Champion: Deeply committed to the island's economic transformation through strategic positioning
This unique background provides PRACCH with exactly what the aerospace-cyber convergence needs most: not another technical specialist, but a skilled integrator who can:
- Speak the languages of different stakeholders without being captured by any single perspective
- Identify opportunities in the gaps between established domains
- Build trust across organizational boundaries
- Navigate complex regulatory and security landscapes
- Structure partnerships that create value for all participants
THE CONVERGENCE OPPORTUNITY
The intersection of aerospace and cybersecurity represents a critical but underdeveloped domain:
- Security Gap: Aviation and space systems were designed for physical safety, not cyber resilience
- Legacy Challenge: Aerospace infrastructure often runs on legacy systems with significant security vulnerabilities
- Siloed Approaches: Security experts rarely understand aviation constraints; aerospace engineers rarely prioritize cyber threats
- Market Blindspot: Few organizations address the unique requirements at this intersection
- Puerto Rico's Advantage: As a nexus between cultures, languages, and regions, our island has always excelled at integration and translation between different worlds
OUR CONVERGENCE MODEL
PRACCH operates on a four-phase model that differs from traditional innovation approaches:
1. DISCOVER
- Identify knowledge gaps between aerospace and cybersecurity domains
- Map capability needs and security challenges specific to the intersection
- Locate complementary expertise across organizational boundaries
- Uncover hidden opportunities in regulatory and compliance requirements
2. CONNECT
- Build trusted relationships between stakeholders across domains
- Create common languages and frameworks for collaboration
- Facilitate knowledge transfer between aerospace and cyber professionals
- Develop joint understanding of challenges and opportunities
3. INTEGRATE
- Design collaborative solutions that draw from both domains
- Establish interoperability standards and secure-by-design principles
- Develop cross-trained teams with hybrid expertise
- Create intellectual property at the intersection, not just within verticals
4. ACCELERATE
- Bring integrated solutions to market through commercial pathways
- Scale successful approaches across multiple aerospace applications
- Export Puerto Rico-developed security models to global markets
- Build repeatable processes for continuous innovation at the convergence
VIRTUAL-FIRST BY DESIGN
Our virtual launch isn't just practical—it embodies our core philosophy. Just as we bridge domains, we're bridging physical and digital worlds:
- Global from Day One: Virtual operations allow us to connect experts worldwide
- Barrier Elimination: Removing geographic constraints enables faster collaboration
- Distributed Expertise: Access to specialists regardless of location
- Practice What We Preach: Building secure digital collaboration infrastructure demonstrates our capabilities
WHO WE SERVE
PRACCH creates unique value for stakeholders at the aerospace-cyber intersection:
Aerospace Companies
- Access to cybersecurity expertise adapted to aerospace constraints
- Solutions that meet both safety and security requirements
- Competitive advantage through secure-by-design approaches
Cybersecurity Firms
- New market opportunities in aerospace and space systems
- Understanding of unique aviation and space requirements
- Partnerships with established aerospace players
Government & Regulators
- Coherent approaches that bridge regulatory domains
- Solutions that address both safety and security compliance
- Strategic positioning for critical infrastructure protection
Puerto Rico's Workforce
- Skills development at a high-value industry intersection
- Cross-domain expertise that commands premium compensation
- Career pathways in globally significant technical domains
GET INVOLVED
For Aerospace Professionals
- Share your industry challenges and security concerns
- Gain exposure to cybersecurity approaches relevant to your systems
- Co-develop standards for secure aerospace innovation
For Cybersecurity Professionals
- Apply your expertise to critical infrastructure protection
- Learn the unique constraints of aviation and space systems
- Develop security solutions for life-critical systems
For Connectors & Integrators
- Help us bridge additional domains and stakeholders
- Contribute your process expertise to our methodology
- Join our network of professional bridge-builders
For Investors
- Access unique opportunities at an underserved intersection
- Support ventures developing solutions for critical infrastructure
- Participate in creating a new innovation model for Puerto Rico
JOIN THE BRIDGE-BUILDERS
- Email: info@praerocyberhub.space
- LinkedIn: @PRACCH
Be part of creating a new model for innovation that leverages Puerto Rico's natural strengths as a connector of worlds.
José's American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics ASCEND 2024 Talk begins at time marker 5:30
Google Docs
José presents to AIAA ASCEND 2024
He shares his vision for sustainable maritime rocket launches from Puerto Rico.
Meet Our Founder - José Figueroa
Community Builder | Economic Catalyst | Convergence Connector
José Figueroa leads Puerto Rico's Aerospace & Cyber Convergence Hub initiative with a straightforward mission: create meaningful opportunities that keep the island's brightest talent at home. Recently recognized by AIAA ASCEND 2024 for his thought leadership on sustainable approaches to rocket launches from Puerto Rico, José brings together a lifelong passion for space exploration with practical skills in community development and economic revitalization. His aim is creating solutions at the intersection of technology, creativity, and mindfulness. His approach is refreshingly direct—connecting people, resources, and ideas to build something lasting for Puerto Rico's future.
Leadership Journey: From Student Leader to Ecosystem Architect
José's talent for uniting diverse stakeholders emerged during his high school years, where he led multiple student organizations and developed collaborative frameworks that brought together previously siloed groups. This natural leadership continued throughout his time at Princeton University, where he was an advocate for minority students in the late 1970's, and while studying law at the University of Miami in the early 1990's.
José built upon his impactful engagement skills by earning a teacher training certification from the Program for Teacher Preparation during his undergraduate studies. This achievement, along with his Sociology degree, gave him a unique understanding of society and diverse community needs. This provided him with skills in curriculum design and educational program implementation, allowing him to create strategies that engage diverse groups and encourage collaboration.
What distinguishes José is his track record of nurturing self-sustaining initiatives rather than personality-dependent projects. His leadership style emphasizes systems and frameworks over individual charisma—critical for long-term sustainability.
Upon returning to Puerto Rico after nearly a four-decade absence, José dedicated himself to building networks that bridge academia, industry, and government. His signature approach combines technological innovation with deep community engagement, ensuring advancements benefit local populations and create lasting economic foundations.
Proven Experience Managing Complex Projects
José's ability to bring ambitious initiatives from concept to completion has been demonstrated through his work as an independent filmmaker. He pursued an MFA in Motion Pictures and Television from UCLA in 1984. With five ultra-low budget feature films under his belt as writer, producer, and director, he understands resource constraints, creative problem-solving, and team leadership.
"Making an independent film is essentially a startup with a six-month lifespan," José explains. "You're building a team from scratch, managing limited resources, solving new problems every day, and delivering a complex product on deadline."
Each film required coordinating dozens of professionals across multiple disciplines—from technical specialists and creative talent to logistics and finance. Working with tight budgets taught him to maximize impact while minimizing waste, crucial for Puerto Rico's resource-constrained environment.
What sets José apart is his openness to creative solutions. During the filming of his first feature, an actor was confused about a prop given to her to use in a scene, with the clock ticking on meeting the day's deadline for shooting.
"Instead of pushing for what wasn't working, I suggested to the actor that the shirt was a representation of the character she had locked away in a cell. In the scene, after listening to an impassioned plea for the character's release, the actor was able to hand over the shirt, symbolizing the prisoner's freedom. What had been a forgettable transition became the emotional anchor of the entire film—all because we remained open to finding inspiration in unexpected places."
This hands-on experience managing complex projects provides a solid foundation for building Puerto Rico's aerospace and cybersecurity ecosystem. It demonstrates his ability to not just envision possibilities, but to shepherd them through the challenging journey from concept to reality.
Creative Catalyst: Identifying Niche Opportunities for Maximum Impact
José's distinctive ability to spot unconventional opportunities stems from his diverse background. This cross-disciplinary perspective allows him to identify high-leverage investment opportunities that others overlook—particularly vital in Puerto Rico's capital-constrained environment.
"Innovation doesn't always require massive capital expenditure," José observes. "Sometimes the most transformative ideas emerge at the intersection of existing capabilities that nobody thought to connect before."
This creative approach yields the Hub's "Micro-Launch Ecosystem" initiative—a perfect example of José's talent for identifying low capital expenditure, high impact opportunities. Rather than competing with established spaceports requiring billions in infrastructure, José recognized that Puerto Rico's unique geographic advantages could be leveraged for specialized micro-launches serving the rapidly growing small satellite market.
"We don't have the resources to build Cape Canaveral," José explains. "But we identified that with relatively modest investments in mobile launch infrastructure and specialized support services, we could create dozens of high-paying jobs while establishing Puerto Rico as a niche player in a specific segment of the aerospace industry."
Another example is the Hub's "Security Operations Talent Pipeline" program, which will transform an apparent disadvantage—limited existing cybersecurity companies—into an opportunity. José designed a program where mainland firms can establish secure remote operations centers staffed by Puerto Rican talent at significantly lower costs than metropolitan locations.
"The startup costs are minimal—essentially specialized training programs and secure facilities certification," José notes. "But the impact will be substantial. We foresee three firms committing to hire 40+ graduates."
José's creative financing approaches are equally innovative. While traditional funding may prove insufficient for a crucial R&D facility, he has a unique consortium model where equipment manufacturers provide technology at reduced costs in exchange for showcasing their systems to potential customers from across Latin America.
"We can turn a multi-million funding gap into an opportunity to position Puerto Rico as a regional demonstration hub," José says. "Manufacturers get access to new markets, our students and startups get access to cutting-edge equipment, and customers throughout Latin America have a convenient location to evaluate technologies."
This talent for identifying unconventional, capital-efficient pathways to economic development sets Jose apart as a unique resource for Puerto Rico's innovation ecosystem. His experience creating compelling stories as a filmmaker translates directly into crafting compelling value propositions that attract partners and investors who might otherwise overlook the island's potential.
A Personal Commitment to Puerto Rico's Future
The statistics tell a sobering story: 62% of Puerto Rico's STEM graduates currently relocate to the mainland for work. Behind that number are thousands of individual stories—talented people who would prefer to build their lives and careers on the island if meaningful opportunities existed.
"These aren't just numbers to me," José says. "They're a younger generation who reluctantly pack up their lives because they don't see a path forward here. We're losing our future, one brilliant mind at a time."
José's commitment to reversing this trend isn't abstract—it's deeply personal. His vision for the Aerospace & Cybersecurity Innovation Hub comes from lived experience, not from economic theories or development models imported from elsewhere.
"Puerto Rico has every ingredient needed to build something extraordinary," he explains. "World-class universities, incredible talent, unique tax advantages through Act 60, and a strategic location. What's been missing is someone willing to roll up their sleeves and connect these pieces in a practical way."
José doesn't shy away from acknowledging the challenges. Puerto Rico's limited venture capital ecosystem ($25M/year compared to $150M+ in peer regions) and infrastructure concerns are real obstacles. But his approach tackles these head-on with specific, achievable steps.
Learning from Proven Success Stories
In developing the Innovation Hub concept, José studied places that successfully built aerospace and cybersecurity sectors from the ground up. Huntsville, Alabama increased wages by 18% over a decade and improved STEM graduate retention from 35% to 80%. Colorado Springs transformed its cybersecurity sector into a $2.1B/year economic engine.
"What struck me wasn't their technical infrastructure—it was how they created environments where talented people wanted to build their lives. The technology followed the talent, not the other way around."
José doesn't claim to be an aerospace engineer or cybersecurity expert. His strength lies in understanding how successful innovation communities work—the human elements that technical experts often overlook. He focuses on building the foundation that makes technical success possible: partnerships between universities and industry, access to shared facilities, early stage investment opportunities, and pathways for graduates to build careers without leaving home.
A Lifelong Passion for Space Meets Practical Purpose
José's interest in space exploration isn't recent—it's been part of his life since childhood. Growing up following the achievements of Projects Gemini and Apollo's lunar missions, he developed a deep appreciation for how innovation can solve seemingly impossible challenges.
"My first memories include watching news stories about the Gemini missions on a black and white television set while living in the South Bronx," José recalls. "I witnessed how a passion for science and progress came together to achieve something extraordinary. That lesson stuck with me."
This lifelong interest gave José a natural connection to aerospace innovation. When AIAA ASCEND 2024 recognized his work on sustainable approaches to rocket launches from Puerto Rico, it validated his ability to contribute meaningfully despite not having traditional aerospace credentials.
"I'm upfront about not being an aerospace engineer," José says. "My contribution is bringing together experts with the resources, connections, and support systems they need to succeed here in Puerto Rico. I studied as an engineer in college, so I’m intimately familiar with the mindset. I'm the bridge-builder, not the rocket designer."
Taking Honest Steps Forward
The Innovation Hub initiative isn't built on grand promises. José's approach begins with practical steps: establishing shared R&D facilities, implementing targeted training programs, and building partnerships with federal agencies and companies already working in aerospace and cybersecurity.
"We've set clear, measurable goals," José explains. "800+ direct jobs in 5 years. Cutting brain drain by half within a decade. These aren't random numbers—they're based on what similar-sized communities have achieved with comparable resources."
The roadmap is straightforward:
- Align stakeholders from universities, private sector, government, and the Puerto Rican diaspora
- Launch shared facilities that provide access to tools and technologies that would be cost-prohibitive for individual organizations
- Create accelerator programs that help talented individuals develop both technical and business skills
- Secure recurring revenue through federal and commercial contracts
What makes José effective is his genuine commitment to Puerto Rico's future, practical approach to building community resources, and ability to bring diverse groups together around common goals. His recognition by AIAA ASCEND 2024 demonstrates that sometimes the most valuable perspective comes from someone who bridges worlds rather than someone deeply embedded in just one.
"In the end, this work isn't about aerospace or cybersecurity for their own sake," José concludes. "It's about creating opportunities so that the next generation of Puerto Ricans can build rewarding careers without having to leave home. That's what drives me every day."