On Monday, government agencies will gather at the NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot (NSLD) in Cape Canaveral to discuss potential DoD-related job opportunities that may utilize existing engineers and technicians currently employed at the facility. Media Advisory is attached – PLEASE NOTE: Media Contact for this event is Dale Ketcham (Spaceport Research & Technology Institute Director) at 321-427-7915 or via email at dale.r.ketcham@nasa.gov or dketcham@mail.ucf.edu.

Government Agencies Gather to Discuss Possible DoD Job Opportunities at NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot

November 16, 2009 (8:00 – 9:00 a.m.)

WHAT: A significant joint effort by agencies of the Federal Government to provide new jobs for the ‘soon to be unemployed’ Shuttle workforce.

Agenda: Identification of opportunities and challenges by key participants followed by press availability and tours of the facility. The event should not exceed 1 hour.

Background: A high-level team from the Pentagon and NASA HQ will provide information to assembled community leaders – including Federal, State and local elected officials – on business opportunities that may be made available in the repair and refurbishment of military hardware returning from Iraq over the next two-to-five years. The estimated value of refurbishment activity is $25B. This team has previously funded pilot projects through the NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot (NSLD) in Cape Canaveral to demonstrate its capability to perform this type of work.

If the bid for NSLD consideration is successful, the work could maintain (and possibly grow) the existing 300+ engineers and technicians presently committed to maintaining flight hardware and ground support equipment for the Shuttle Program at the NSLD, which is scheduled to be closed (and its employees laid off) next year.

Progress to date has been funded and orchestrated by the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program (www.dodmantech.com ).

ATTENDEES:

  • Adele Ratcliff, Director/Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Advanced Systems & Concepts)
  • John Olson, Director, Directorate Integration Office (DIO). Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
  • Dick Covey, CEO, United Space Alliance
  • Congressman Bill Posey
  • Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas
  • Frank DiBello, President, Space Florida
  • Lynda Weatherman, President, EDC of Florida’s Space Coast
  • Lisa Rice, President, Workforce Brevard

WHEN: Monday, November 16 (launch day) 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot (NSLD) 8550 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

CONTACT:

Dale Ketcham, Director Spaceport Research & Technology Institute (SRTI) C: 321-427-7915 dale.r.ketcham@nasa.gov, dketcham@mail.ucf.edu