James L. Estep has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the High Technology Foundation since June of 2000. Jim’s efforts have positioned the I-79 Technology Park as the premier economic diversification initiative in the West Virginia. Under his leadership, the I-79 Technology Park has expanded to 400+ acres and over 750,000 square feet of Class A office and lab space. The High Technology Foundation has leveraged the park as a tool to recruit federal operations whose significant contracting opportunities serve to attract new industry to the state. For example, the I-79 Technology Park is home to NOAA’s Environmental Security Computing Center, as well as two of the nation’s most important satellite ground station programs, namely the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program and the Joint Polar Satellite System.
Mr. Estep is currently working to recruit additional economic anchors to the park to establish a state knowledge sector.
Mr. Estep is active in several business and technology efforts around the state and serves as Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex.
Mr. Estep earned a master's degree in computer science from West Virginia University (WVU) and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from WVU Institute of Technology. Mr. Estep served as commissioned officer in the United States Army.
