A timeline of events regarding two major grants awarded to coalitions led by the University of Texas at El Paso that were intended to expand aerospace manufacturing in El Paso.
- Jan. 11, 2017 – Then-UTEP President Diana Natalicio signs an interlocal agreement with El Paso County to use up to 9,600 acres near the Fabens Airport for research space that will grow the region’s economic opportunities. The agreement will begin April 1 and terminate March 31, 2027.
- May 2018 – Natalicio names UTEP Professor Ahsan Choudhuri associate vice president of the university’s NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research, now known as the Aerospace Center, which he founded in October 2009.
- Aug. 15, 2019 – Heather Wilson becomes UTEP president.
- March 10, 2022 – Wilson sends a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce expressing strong support for the Build Back Better Regional Challenge proposal, praising the leadership of principal investigator Choudhuri and co-PI Ryan Wicker.
- July 29, 2022 – Susie Byrd, the then director of economic development and workforce excellence at the Aerospace Center, emails Wilson with a number of requests for the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, but it includes a request to support the Aerospace Center’s upcoming grant submission to the NSF Research Innovation Engine program.
- Sept. 2, 2022 – The U.S. Economic Development Administration awards a $40 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to the UTEP-led coalition, one of 21 awarded.
- Jan. 18, 2023 – UTEP submits its grant proposal for a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engine grant. The proposal involves 18 partners from West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
- Jan. 29, 2024 – The NSF awards one of 10 Regional Innovation Engine grants, worth up to $160 million through 2034 depending on performance metrics, to the UTEP-led Paso del Norte Defense and Aerospace Innovation Engine. The initial $15 million investment is for two years through February 2026.
- Feb. 2, 2024 – Ahmed Itani, UTEP vice president for research, sends Wicker and Choudhuri a memo stating ways the university plans to be active in the governance, oversight and accountability of the NSF grant. The next day, Wicker sends an email that criticizes the university’s lack of administrative support. Choudhuri, who had been traveling, did the same on Feb. 5. Both say that Itani’s suggestions are UTEP’s way to force them to leave.
- Feb. 22, 2024 – The NSF encourages Regional Innovation Engine recipients to celebrate with launch events.
- April 18, 2024 – Almost 20 people, including staffers from the White House and the offices of Rep. Veronica Escobar and Wilson, had a Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. EST (8 a.m. MST) to discuss plans for the May 3 launch event. The White House wanted Escobar’s team to lead the event planning, while the UTEP team wanted the university to take the lead.
- April 18, 2024 – Choudhuri emails Itani at 9:34 a.m., suggesting the NSF grant be transferred to El Paso Makes, a nonprofit economic development initiative that Choudhuri helped found to transform West Texas into a hub for advanced manufacturing, particularly in defense and aerospace. Ten minutes later, Wicker sends Itani an email that also recommends the grant be sent to El Paso Makes due to UTEP’s lack of support. In his response at 3:12 p.m., Itani said he would schedule a meeting to hear their plan.
- April 20, 2024 – Choudhuri said he received a call from a high-ranking NSF representative asking if Wilson supported the grant. Escobar said that she received a call from someone connected to the federal government who implied that Wilson was not supportive of the grant. Choudhuri and Escobar would not reveal who the callers were.
- April 22, 2024 – UTEP’s Office of Accounting and Consulting Services requests a meeting with Choudhuri as part of its review of the NSF proposal. Choudhuri, who was out of town, contacts Itani to tell him that he considers this request another effort to oust him. Wicker, who also is traveling, asks Itani to find out why the audit office wants to meet. Itani says that it is part of a standard review and asks both men to participate. The auditor requests additional information April 26 about the Tech 1 Campus in Fabens, and asks for responses by May 1.
- April 25, 2024 – The NSF alerts UTEP to suspend work on the UTEP-led Innovation Engine grant pending review, without announcing reasons publicly.
- May 1, 2024 – Choudhuri responds to the internal auditor’s April 26 questions with a detailed 28-page report.
- May 6, 2024 – UTEP announces the grant’s suspension. Additionally, Wilson writes a memo to Choudhuri that the audit uncovered inaccurate resource claims and did not provide adequate corrective actions. She relieves him from the Aerospace Center director position and removes his associate vice president title.
- May 8 – Elected leaders send Wilson a letter condemning her decision to demote Choudhuri. The University of Texas System chancellor and board chair release a joint statement May 9 in support of Wilson and her decisions in this matter.
- June 20, 2024 – UTEP appoints Shery Welsh as the executive director of the Aerospace Center. She will begin July 15.
- July 29, 2024 – Jack Chessa, chair of the UTEP Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, sends a memo to UTEP College of Engineering Dean Kenith Meissner II with faculty concerns that stem from the aftermath of the decision to demote Choudhuri. Meissner responds Aug. 2, stating that he had to follow UTEP and University of Texas System rules, but does not provide specific rules at the time.
- Aug. 12, 2024 – Byrd emails UTEP leadership warning that a lack of timely action has put BBB funds at risk, urging decisive steps before Choudhuri’s departure.
- Nov. 6, 2024 – Chessa resigns as chair, a position he has held since 2018, because he could not support or work with Welsh.
- Nov. 8, 2024 – Wicker retires after months of considering how he could stay at UTEP and produce at the high level expected at the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation.
- June 18, 2025 – The Economic Development Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce, notifies the city of El Paso that construction has not yet begun on BBB-funded projects, putting the project at risk.
- Aug. 12, 2025 – The NSF cancels the Innovation Engine grant after reallocating most of the initial $15 million intended for the project’s first two years. Escobar releases her own statement Aug. 15 where she blames Wilson for the decisions that eventually killed the grant.
- Oct. 14, 2025 – The El Paso City Council votes to become co-lead on the BBB grant after negotiations with UTEP, citing UTEP’s insufficient staffing capacity.
- Dec. 12, 2025 – Choudhuri retires after 25 years at UTEP.
- Feb. 4, 2026 – The NSF’s Office of Inspector General notifies Choudhuri that it had completed its investigation and did not substantiate the allegations of falsification.
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