Blair Bigelow May is a woman on a mission. The Summerlin resident, Las Vegas native, and mother of two young daughters has found her passion and purpose: to make Las Vegas a hub for aviation and aerospace. No small feat—but a calling that comes naturally. She’s the granddaughter of Robert Bigelow, entrepreneur and founder of Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace, the first-ever space station company and pioneer of expandable habitat technology. It remains the only private company in the world with a module on the International Space Station, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM).
After graduating from Southern Methodist University (SMU) with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a Professional MBA from SMU’s Cox School of Business, Bigelow May served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Bigelow Aerospace for five years. In that role, she had a front row seat to the beginning of the commercialization of low Earth orbit and forged strong relationships with key players across civil and commercial aerospace, including NASA and SpaceX.
Today, Blair is focused on ensuring U.S. leadership in the next era of lunar development. She sees the Moon as the most valuable real estate in our solar system. “Our national posture relative to the Moon is in crisis,” said Bigelow May. “We should strive to beat competing nations back to the Moon by creating cohesive leadership across the private sector and capital markets. We risk surrendering the next great economic frontier—a domain rich with critical materials, energy potential, and infrastructure advantages that could define 21st-century supply chains. Leadership on the Moon is not just about exploration, it’s about setting the tone for international norms, economic advantage, and strategic influence.”
For Blair, that leadership starts at home. She believes building an aerospace and aviation ecosystem in Las Vegas is not just possible, it’s essential. The city already has a ‘can-do’ spirit and a legacy rooted in defense and air power through Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases and Area 51.
“A fabric, culture of innovation, and forward-thinking mobility, paired with a clear infrastructure to help high school graduates chart a path toward meaningful, well-paying jobs, would advance the goal of building a system that helps young people imagine and pursue ambitious futures,” she said. “It would create a roadmap that connects education to real opportunity,” she said.
Las Vegas remains the least diversified economy of its size, a weakness made clear during COVID when unemployment soared above 30%. “Highly skilled, high-paying jobs punch far above their weight in economic impact,” she notes. “This is a rising-tide moment—an opportunity to lift all boats and future-proof our state.” She’s also in talks with key stakeholders and local organizations about launching a Las Vegas-branded suborbital mission.
A frequent speaker at aerospace conferences around the world, Bigelow May recently gave a keynote at the Women in Tech Global Summit in Osaka, Japan. In May, she addressed the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium at Johns Hopkins APL, focusing on the need to strengthen America’s strategic position on the Moon. In July, she’s slated to speak at the ASCEND conference in Las Vegas on a space finance panel which convenes civil, commercial, and national security space leaders.
Self-described on her Instagram profile – @blairbigelowmay – as a mom, space & strategy, founder, speaker, philanthropist, and investor. She co-founded Las Vegas-based Desert Legacy Capital in 2023, an investment firm that aims to create a diverse portfolio of investments in small to medium-sized companies.
The mother of two young children, Bigelow May is equally passionate about healthcare and STEM education. She recently completed a three-year term as board chair of the St. Rose Dignity Health Foundation, which has raised more than $75 million over five years. She also serves on the Intermountain Pediatric Hospital task force, sits on the advisory board for Cleveland Clinic, and is a member of SMU’s Young Alumni Board. Over the past two years, she’s raised nearly $1 million for Make-A-Wish Nevada through an event she created with her close friends —“Starry Night”— tapping the city’s young professional philanthropy universe of which she, herself, is a shining star.
In Summerlin, she and her husband, Patrick May, have found a community of like-minded friends who share their entrepreneurial spirit and passion for making lasting impacts, creating transformative change, and leaving legacies of significance.
To learn more, visit bbmay.com and follow her on IG @blairbigelowmay.
