WESLACO, Texas — South Texas College has officially launched its first-of-its-kind Avionics Technician program, bringing specialized aerospace electronics training to the Rio Grande Valley.
Reporting on the newly launched initiative during a recent McAllen Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) quarterly stakeholders committee meeting, Leonel Garcia, Director of STC’s Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships (CATA), confirmed that the program’s inaugural cohort began training just a few weeks ago.
Garcia emphasized that the program represents a significant culmination of regional collaboration spanning Starr and Hidalgo counties, designed specifically to feed local aviation and aerospace talent pipelines.
“We started the aviation technician program just a few weeks ago. That is the first-of-its-kind program for South Texas College,” Garcia told MEDC stakeholders. “This was a culmination of regional collaboration with Starr County and Hidalgo County. Most of the training is taking place at the Mid-Valley campus. We did partner up with the Weslaco Airport and are having much of the technical training there.”
Garcia noted that STC has begun actively coordinating with regional airports and aviation employers across South Texas to secure immediate job placement opportunities for enrolled students.
“That's the purpose of the program,” Garcia added.
The foundation for the program was set in motion earlier this year following a $50,000 investment from Hidalgo County Precinct 1 in collaboration with the Mid-Valley Airport in Weslaco.
Local officials and educational leaders identified a growing local shortage of certified technicians qualified to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair sophisticated electronic systems—including flight controls, communications, navigation, weather radar, and autopilot components—in aircraft and spacecraft.
STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., highlighted the rapid, workforce-aligned structure of the CATA initiative.
“At STC, we respond to the needs of our community, and if it allows us to train, reskill, upskill and produce high-quality technicians and professionals, then we will work hard to bring those programs to our area,” Solis stated. “This new Avionics program has high standards, and we expect that, with the help of our partners, we can have students complete this program in only 16 weeks and be ready for the workforce.”
Carlos Margo, Dean for CATA, noted that demand for avionics expertise extends beyond municipal and regional airports to include the expanding commercial space industry in South Texas.
“The development of the program was based on the current and growing need for avionic technicians in the entire Rio Grande Valley,” Margo said. “As the economy continues to expand in our region, so does the size of our airports and the number of aircraft that will need maintenance and repair.”
Margo added that SpaceX operations in Cameron County serve as another primary driver for specialized avionics skills. “Our Avionics Program will also prepare students for real-world application of skills needed for spacecraft,” he noted. “The combination of knowledge and skills for avionics is hard to find, and the goal of this program is to not only prepare individuals for a highly paid, sustainable career, but to assist employers with their strategic growth and operational plans.”
Administered through CATA, the program offers two distinct educational tracks:
Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner David Fuentes and Texas State Representative Armando Martinez (D-Weslaco) worked together to secure county support and facility space at the Mid-Valley Airport.
As part of ongoing expansions at the airport, two new facilities are being constructed, with dedicated space equipped with specialized instruments and electrical power systems tailored to STC’s curriculum.
“Avionics is such a niche field, but it is vital to the airports in our region, and there aren’t any other programs like this in the RGV,” Fuentes said. “This upcoming program aligns with everything we believe will enhance our communities with a certain skillset and training.”
Representative Martinez noted the broader geographic reach of the partnership, pointing out that prior to this launch, no comparable training program existed south of Waco.
“STC’s Mid-Valley campus is an anchor in our community, including McAllen and Starr County,” Martinez said. “By working with the college, we are expanding opportunities for everyone in the Valley, and now, no one must leave home to pursue this high-paying career.”
During his report to MEDC stakeholders, Garcia also highlighted two additional workforce initiatives underway through STC's Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships:
