Steve Altemus: Building Pathways from Earth to Space
When Steve Altemus looks at San Jacinto College students, he sees more than learners. He sees the future of Houston’s economy and the skilled workforce that will propel the next era of exploration.
Altemus, CEO and founder of Intuitive Machines, knows firsthand how education changes journeys. A former NASA engineer turned entrepreneur, he has spent his career breaking barriers — first in aerospace, now in workforce opportunity. Through the Altemus Family Touch Labor Scholarship and support of Promise @ San Jac Scholarship, he and his wife, Brunella, are investing in students who are ready to lift off but face financial or social barriers to getting there.
“On a personal level, the scholarship is deeply meaningful to Brunella and me,” Altemus said. “It’s our way of building something enduring for the Clear Lake community and for the industries that will define our futures. Just as I founded this company to remove barriers to space, Brunella and I created the Altemus Family Touch Labor Scholarship to remove barriers for people who face challenges accessing higher education and economic mobility.”
For Intuitive Machines, touch labor — the skilled, hands-on work that brings designs from blueprint to launch pad — is essential. Automation can’t replicate the precision and intuition that trained technicians provide, and many of those specialists come directly from San Jacinto College.
San Jac students’ drive and commitment impress me. Supporting Promise helps ensure that more students can access these opportunities regardless of financial barriers and continue building the skills that strengthen our workforce and our region.
For many students, figuring out what to study, where to go to college, and how to apply are already stressful enough without adding financial worries to the mix.
“But there are many different paths to college and resources that can help you get there,” Altemus said. “Promise is a great example of that. It covers tuition and fees and provides access to certifications, associate degrees, and career training. You don’t have to leave your community or take on debt to start building your future.”
For the Altemuses, giving back is a shared value rooted in connection. By removing financial barriers and expanding opportunity, they hope to strengthen families, companies, and East Harris County as a whole.
“Promise is a smart investment in the future of our region,” he said. “When students succeed, families succeed. That success ripples outward, creating a healthier community that attracts talent, drives innovation, and fuels long-term regional economic growth.”
Getting students from launch pad to classroom is simple: Remove barriers so potential can take flight.
“College is possible,” Altemus said. “Your path might be different from someone else’s, but it’s yours — and it’s worth pursuing.”
Read more stories from the Chancellor's Report to the Community
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
