Groundbreaking for Consolidated Turbine Specialists LLC expansion

In 2019, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a California based company, purchased the parent company of Consolidated Turbine Specialists, aka CTS, which was originally founded in 2012. When Kratos acquired CTS, it affirmed its desire to continue to grow CTS in Oklahoma, expressing its eventual intent to expand the Bristow location by adding around 20,000 square feet to the facility and adding jobs. Two years later, that desire is being fulfilled.

On Friday, March 12th, Kratos held a groundbreaking for its expansion of Bristow’s CTS location adjacent to its existing facility at Bristow Jones Memorial Airport. Many locals as well as company representatives, state legislators, City of Bristow Mayor and Council members, business owners, and others attended to celebrate the milestone of Bristow’s evolving aerospace industry.

Speakers included CTS President, Johnny “Bump” Grant; City of Bristow Councilman and President of Willeford Construction Solutions, Jeff Willeford; Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission State Director of Aeronautics, Grayson Ardies; City of Bristow Mayor Rick Pinson; State of Oklahoma Representative Kyle Hilbert; Oklahoma Department of Commerce Executive Director, Brent Kisling; State of Oklahoma Senator James Leewright; and New Life International Worship Center Pastor Eric Parker, who provided the prayer.

Although each speaker introduced their own insights and perspectives, all spoke of the promise the burgeoning aerospace industry in Bristow offers not only the community but the state and country as well. Speakers expressed gratitude sprinkled with good-natured humor as they ushered in CTS’ expansion with a buzz of excitement.

Mr. Grant addressed attendees first, speaking about what Kratos and CTS do as companies as well as their goals, strengths, and successes both abroad and locally. Next, Mr. Willeford spoke about his company’s contributions in building forward for CTS and Bristow. Mr. Ardies followed, providing statistics and numbers for the industry and associated projects with special notice that Bristow’s airport has been the recipient of an investment of nearly $9,000,000 in the last three to four years. Mayor Pinson expressed gratitude and congratulations to Kratos and CTS on behalf of the City of Bristow and committed to welcoming and aiding any industries in building here. Rep. Hilbert conveyed gratitude to local industry businesses offering quality, high-paying jobs for locals and recent graduates as well as committing to support and help businesses thrive at the state legislative level. Mr. Kisling focused on how members, from all entities involved, functioned as a team to accomplish the growth and expansion of CTS and other aerospace companies in Bristow. Wrapping up, Sen. Leewright gave an enlightening synopsis of the evolution of Oklahoma’s aerospace industry, the second largest in Oklahoma with an annual economic impact of $44 billion. Finally, Pastor Parker offered a prayer of gratitude and hope.

Throughout their speeches, one buzzword often spoken and met with an air of joy, laughter, and applause included “air evangelism,” referencing, in part, Bristow’s ability to attract, grow, and support aerospace industry businesses such as CTS, Vertical Aerospace, and the new-to-Bristow company PAS MRO. Everyone in attendance committed to working to further Bristow’s aerospace industry footprint. Some of the speakers also thanked Mayor Pinson for working to bring new businesses to the city and committing to keep them here through continued local support.

With each new aerospace business created or expanded, Bristow’s economy grows, creating new local job opportunities as well. Legislators, state departments, local businesses, City of Bristow leaders, and Kratos-CTS leaders and employees worked together to create and build the current growth opportunity and plan to continue in the future. For its part, Kratos fulfilled its intent to expand the Bristow CTS location. The new construction will more than double the size of the existing facility and swell local employment opportunities to an estimated 100 employees over the next three to five years.

For all of the hardships COVID-19 introduced, many people worked diligently to bring to fruition a blooming hope and plan for CTS’ and Bristow’s future as a welcoming home to the aerospace industry. Friday’s groudbreaking ceremony proved the perfect opportunity to celebrate success despite those hardships. Stay tuned as we follow the construction and growth of CTS and welcome additional aerospace industrial partners in the coming months and years with updates and exciting developments to celebrate. In the meantime, check out www.KratosDefense.com and www.ctsturbines.com if you’d like to learn more about Kratos and CTS.