Christopher Mammen is no stranger to building systems that work. As executive director of The Dee Howard Foundation (DHF) in San Antonio, Texas, he leads efforts to connect K–12 students—especially those from historically underserved communities—to aerospace and advanced technology careers. By pairing the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) framework with hands-on innovation, Mammen is helping transform a workforce challenge into a long-term economic opportunity.
“The TPM model gave me the language and structure to turn employer frustrations into shared solutions,” Mammen reflected. “At DHF, we’ve expanded that lens—taking TPM into the classroom to inspire and prepare students for aerospace careers before they graduate high school.”
Under his leadership, DHF has launched a multi-tiered strategy informed by workforce data, industry validation, and equitable access. The foundation’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) drone program now operates in 13 public middle and high schools, and will expand further in 2025–26. Enrollment continues to climb—middle school participation grew by more than 49%, and more than 80 students earned their FAA Part 107 drone certification during the 2023–24 school year.
DHF has also created a full “flight path”—a continuum of Science, Technology, Engineering, and MathematicsSTEM learning and real-world experiences that supports students from middle school through postsecondary education and into high-wage, high-skill careers. Its “Build, Code, Maintain, and Fly” model ensures learners gain exposure to all aspects of drone operations, from technical systems to field testing.
DHF’s emphasis on project-based learning and authentic experience sets it apart. In 2024, the organization hosted a citywide drone competition focused on water conservation, engaging more than 300 students in applied STEM and sustainability challenges. This approach—described internally as “more than an internship”—is carried through six- to eight-week, industry-guided student projects and supported by an expanding network of mentors, externships, and educator fellowships.
Mammen’s TPM expertise is evident in DHF’s data-driven culture. Student enrollment, certifications, and work-based learning activities are tracked and shared with employers and education partners to align programming with workforce needs. The foundation also launched the Future-Ready Aerospace Educator Community of Practice, equipping teachers to bring industry relevance into their classrooms through externships and professional development.
Before joining DHF, Mammen served as vice president of workforce development at greater:SATX, where he implemented TPM across five industries—construction, IT/cybersecurity, manufacturing, finance, and healthcare—and managed employer engagement for the city’s $200 million Ready to Work program. While those efforts addressed immediate workforce needs, Mammen recognized a longer-term opportunity: influencing student aspirations and educator understanding much earlier in the pipeline.
At DHF, that insight has become strategy. “Our vision is grounded in equity,” Mammen shared. “We believe every student—regardless of zip code—deserves access to the careers of tomorrow. That means creating pathways that are visible, validated, and truly student-centered.”
Mammen was named the San Antonio Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” Man of the Year in 2023 and selected as a Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Alamo Workforce Leadership Academy. He also serves as a TPM Fellow and mentor to new TPM Academy cohorts, contributing regularly to the TPM National Learning Network.
Christopher Mammen’s leadership reflects the transformative power of TPM—from employer collaboration to community impact. Through the Dee Howard Foundation, he is helping San Antonio’s next generation take flight—literally and figuratively—on pathways built with purpose, partnership, and possibility.
About the author
