Workforce and Development

Recognizing the transition of the aerospace workforce from the Space Shuttle to the Constellation program and the critical workforce issues resulting, Space Florida has partnered with the Brevard Workforce Development Board (BWDB), Aerospace Career Development Council (ACDC), Workforce Florida, Enterprise Florida and many other entities, to determine from a wide base of stakeholders the logical steps to pursue for an immediate workforce scope of work.

In order to provide the first phase of aerospace workforce transition, the BWDB will lead a targeted study to analyze and further define the Workforce Skills Study with regards to three specific Shuttle work areas, workforce skills and capacities for Shuttle / Next Generation and related system hardware elements.  The result will be a ‘skills mapping’ from Shuttle to Next Generation system hardware / work requirement for those functions.  Other immediate actions include; the development of a communications message and plan that centers on lifelong learning; a workforce curriculum analysis; employed worker training and if determined, the development of a learning management system for further workforce functional skills mapping.  

Space Florida Education and R&D initiatives are specifically geared towards Workforce Development. The programs guide the participants towards space / science related fields as well as set out to "bridge engineering and science" gaps that exist in the educational and workforce marketplace. During the various Workshop, Internship, and R&D programs, students and teachers alike participate in a range of hands-on inter-disciplinary projects, designed to assist them become problem-solvers. Education instructors present real-life workplace, space and science based problems to the participants at the Space Florida Lab. Participants are also introduced to the space / science communities through informative tours and Panel Discussions with key Kennedy Space Center employers as well as industry personnel. Participation in these programs, as well as meeting the informed personnel will inspire and guide this next generation to play a vital role in Florida's space / science workforce community.

Space Florida in partnership with the NASA / Florida Space Grant Consortium, also encourages program participants to continue their studies in science-based programs at universities and community colleges. In addition, Kennedy Space Center Internships, Florida R&D programs and many other grant opportunities are fully supported by both entities.