Albers Aerospace celebrated the grand opening of its new Tucson facility today, which nearly triples its square footage and will allow for at least 25 new employees — double its current headcount.
Headquartered in McKinney, Texas, Albers Aerospace acquired Tucson-based Parallel Ventures, a precision machine shop, in early 2025 and chose to expand in Tucson to be near their customers and establish a manufacturing center of excellence for the entire company.
“Once we got here, it didn’t take long to realize we needed to grow — manufacturing engineers, CNC programmers and machine operators, assembly techs, inspectors — the kind of work AI can’t do,” founder and CEO John Albers said at the ceremony. “We need technology to help us, but in the end, you’ve got to make things.
“We came to Tucson because the defense ecosystem was already here. It wasn’t aspirational,” he continued. The company specializes in agile, timely solutions for warfighters.
Trade workers like those Albers employs are essential to the company’s mission to rebuild the defense industry’s manufacturing base in the U.S. As part of the celebration, Albers presented an $11,500 donation to the Pima Community College Foundation for scholarships.
“We’re super excited to put some money to a scholarship at Pima Community College, and we’re going to do more,” Albers said. “There’s a tremendous opportunity now for tradesmen and -women. Institutions that are supporting that — we want to invest in them, and we need them,” Albers said.
Pima County District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott and U.S. Rep Juan Ciscomani (R-6) joined the celebration, congratulating the company on its expansion and thanking Albers for investing in Tucson.
“Albers Aerospace represents exactly the type of advanced manufacturing aerospace and defense company we want to see grow and succeed,” Scott said. “With over 70,000 Pima County residents employed in aerospace and defense, its major role in our regional and statewide economy is undeniable. We will see continued growth and prosperity as more companies like Albers Aerospace choose to invest here. That is why today’s milestone is so significant.”
Rep. Ciscomani, a Pima Community College graduate, said he appreciated Albers Aerospace’s immediate support of the college and local workforce development efforts and noted how well-positioned Southern Arizona is for aerospace and defense companies to thrive.
“Time after time, this community continues to demonstrate that it’s the right place to invest, and the people here are the right people to help that growth and that investment. So this is the right place for you all to be, and we welcome you with arms wide open,” Ciscomani said.
Rep. Ciscomani also presented Albers Aerospace with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in honor of the grand opening of their new facility and in recognition of its “outstanding contributions as a veteran colonel-owned aerospace and defense company.”
Albers is a retired Marine and has hired many other veterans throughout the company. Rep. Ciscomani serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee and national security subcommittees in Congress.
The new facility began full operations in July.
“We want to thank you for your investment, and we welcome you,” said Joe Snell, president and CEO of The Chamber of Southern Arizona, extending congratulations on behalf of The Chamber’s board of directors and 1,500 investors. “This kind of investment is what pays the bills. This is how you get roads built, how you get parks built — it takes a tax base. So we thank you.”
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Albers Aerospace is a team of warfighters and committed teammates delivering value and inspiring others to make a difference for our nation and the men and women who serve it daily. Learn more at albers.aero.
The Chamber of Southern Arizona is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and prosperity in our region through economic development, advocacy, and partnerships among businesses, local governments, and educational institutions. Learn more at thechambersoaz.com.
Contact:
Lori Byron, Albers Aerospace
Magen Howard, The Chamber of Southern Arizona
