Without a steady pipeline of space workforce professionals, our ability to innovate and compete globally is threatened. This shortage is not just a space workforce issue — it is a significant national and economic security risk. The space industry is vital to our defense capabilities, which are crucial for maintaining the leadership, stability and prosperity of our nation.
As the United States faces growing global competition in space and technology, we are at a critical juncture. Like the semiconductor crisis leading to the CHIPS and Science Act, our nation now grapples with a severe shortage of STEM and skilled trade professionals in the space industry. While engineers, data scientists and cybersecurity experts are in high demand, machinists, welders and technicians are also vital to manufacturing and maintaining space systems.
When we launched Space Workforce 2030 two years ago, our goal was to address the space industry’s urgent need for a diverse and skilled workforce through a comprehensive strategy spanning from the classroom to the boardroom. Supported by an executive pledge and endorsed by over 30 leading space companies, we’ve made significant strides toward our 2030 targets. However, as we look ahead, the challenges we face demand a strategy that extends well beyond 2030.
Based on this need, Space Workforce 2030 will evolve to a new name: Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT). Our effort is more than a set deadline but rather a sustainable commitment to accelerating our efforts and building on the momentum we’ve achieved. SWFT embodies our expanded mission to develop a workforce that meets tomorrow’s demands and is prepared to lead for generations to come.
SWFT bridges the gap between industry and academia with a comprehensive three-pillar approach.
1. Inspire (K-12 education): By inspiring countless young people, particularly from underrepresented communities, to pursue careers in STEM and skilled trades, we expand our operational capacities at every level. Partnering with teachers as well as organizations such as the Girl Scouts of America, Club for the Future, Space Foundation and NASA, we are working to reach millions of students, sparking their interest and excitement for joining space-related fields.
2. Prepare (post-secondary education): A cornerstone of our efforts is the National Space Intern Program, which is working to connect thousands of students with space internships and mentorship opportunities nationwide. In providing hands-on experiences and real-world engagements, we are priming students for the talent pipeline and forging successful space industry careers.
3. Employ (current workforce): SWFT is collaborating with industry partners to exchange best practices and support collective efforts to advance and expand the space talent pool. To date, SWFT-led discussions and strategies have already enabled us to start addressing staffing needs, as well as develop more effective approaches for recruiting, retaining and advancing new generations of space professionals.
A significant milestone in SWFT’s journey was working with congressional leaders to establish the first-ever National Space Day resolution with bipartisan, bicameral support. Celebrated on the first Friday of May in recognition of Alan Shepard’s historic spaceflight, the day serves as a platform to recognize the achievements and opportunities that space enables and highlight the value and impacts space brings to life on Earth. It aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers by promoting STEM and skilled trades education, and by encouraging careers in space-related fields. The inaugural event this past May reached classrooms nationwide, sparking both curiosity and imagination among students about their future career opportunities.
Just as the CHIPS Act addressed the semiconductor crisis, Congress cannot afford to overlook the space workforce shortage we are facing. Federal investments in space-related STEM and skilled trades education, workforce development incentives and robust public-private partnerships are crucial to maintaining American leadership in space.
As demonstrated by the past six decades, space leadership is global leadership, and today America is at the top. But that position is not guaranteed. To preserve our nation’s technological edge and strategic advantage, we need continuous and sustainable investments in space-related workforce development. Building a robust and inclusive workforce is not a one-time effort. Rather, it’s an ongoing investment that strengthens our national and economic security.
While the challenges faced by the space community are significant, they are solvable. With strategic investments and a unified national effort, we can build a space workforce ready to meet tomorrow’s demands and lead for decades to come.
Supporting initiatives like SWFT ensures the U.S. remains at the forefront of space innovation, and the time to act is now. Our future national and economic security are dependent on it. Failure to do so is not an option any of us want to explore.
Melanie Stricklan is the Executive Director of Space Workforce for Tomorrow, co-founder and former CEO of Slingshot Aerospace and a retired officer of the US Air Force.
