Innovative Initiative Aims to Align Education, Training, and Credentialing to Drive Space Industry Growth.
Colorado Springs, CO – The Space Workforce Institute (SWI) has officially launched today, marking a major step forward in addressing the workforce challenges facing the rapidly expanding space economy. By aligning the needs of the space industry with education, training, and credentialing resources, the SWI seeks to be the industry’s thought leader in establishing workforce standards, building job role credentials, and developing a comprehensive body of knowledge for space professionals.
The Space Workforce Institute is committed to help meet the demand for tens of thousands of new professionals to enter the space industry each year, while also creating continuous opportunities for career development within the existing workforce.
“Our goal is to create pathways into the space economy and empower space professionals with credentials that are not only recognized across the industry but that also validate their expertise and skills,” said Bill West, Executive Director of the Space Workforce Institute. “Professional credentials are key to establishing trust, ensuring competency, and opening doors to new opportunities within the space industry. The Space Workforce Institute is creating a framework that will allow individuals to demonstrate their proficiency and help the industry address needs for upskilling, reskilling, and welcoming new entrants.”
The SWI brings together an extraordinary combination of leaders from across sectors, including commercial space companies, academic institutions, industry associations, and former space leadership from the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, and the National Space Council. This unique coalition is committed to collaboration and providing a provider-neutral approach that ensures the long-term success of the space workforce.
Led by senior executives from the space, learning, and credentialing industries, the Institute is working to create meaningful, skill-based standards and certifications that will drive both the growth of the workforce and the future of the industry. These efforts will lead to the development of valid, reliable certifications and a set of evolving best practices that support ongoing professional development.
“We believe that professional credentials will be pivotal in advancing the space workforce,” said Bill West. “By offering individuals certifications based on needed competencies, we are helping to ensure that the space industry has a workforce that is not only prepared but also adaptable to the dynamic challenges ahead. This is about more than just skills—it’s about building confidence in the workforce and recognizing achievement.”
Key objectives of the Space Workforce Institute include:
- Establishing industry-wide workforce standards.
- Offering vendor neutral, skill-based credentialing programs for both new entrants and existing professionals in the space industry.
- Creating alternative pathways into the space economy across the wide variety of professions and stages of careers, from young people entering the workforce to career changers.
- Creating a professional development community that evolves best practices and introduces innovative methods supported by industry leaders.
“As the space industry continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the need for clear pathways into the space economy and ongoing professional advancement will only become more critical,” said Bill West. “The Space Workforce Institute is committed to creating the credentials and a sustainable framework that not only addresses immediate workforce needs but also lays the foundation for continuous professional growth and industry-wide recognition,” said Diane Howard, Former Director, Commercial Space Policy at the National Space Council.
For more information about the Space Workforce Institute and its mission, please visit www.SpaceWorkforceInstitute.org, stop by Booth #203 at the 40th Space Symposium conference, or contact:
Media Contact:
Robert Zielinski
Director of Customer Solutions
Phone: 937-672-3003
Email: robert@novaspaceinc.com