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Engineering and Technical Management

Space Force Establishes University Partnership Program

By Steve Skotte/August 18, 2021

Space Force Establishes University Partnership Program

Steve Skotte
On August 9th, the Space Force signed the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for its University Partnership Program with the University of North Dakota. The other universities on track to sign up for the program are:

  • Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Howard University

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

  • Purdue University

  • University of Colorado System (beginning with Boulder and Colorado Springs)

  • University of Texas System (beginning with Austin and El Paso)

  • University of Southern California

“The Space Force faces some of the toughest challenges in engineering, science, and technology,” said the Chief of Space Operations. “Space is hard. We need our nation’s brightest minds working to help us tackle these problems. That is why we have established the University Partnership Program to harness the innovation at universities across our country."

Universities were selected based on four criteria: the quality of STEM degree offerings and space-related research laboratories and initiatives; a robust ROTC program; a diverse student population; and degrees and programming designed to support military, veterans and their families in pursing higher education. Signing an MOU is only the first step in defining the partnership. Next, the Space Force will work with UND and each university that follows to outline specific implementation milestones to meet the program’s four main goals.

  1. Establish opportunities for world-class research, advanced academic degrees, and workforce and leadership development for USSF Guardians

  2. Identify and pursue research areas of mutual interest with member universities, individually and collectively

  3. Establish scholarship, internship and mentorship opportunities for university students and ROTC cadets

  4. Recruit and develop diverse officer, enlisted, and civilian Guardians with a particular focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

The Space Force designed the UPP to identify, develop and retain a diverse STEM-capable workforce, but also recognizes there are secondary benefits of the program.

“Students who participate in the research or development opportunities created through the UPP do not need to become military or civilian Guardians,” said the Chief of Space Operations. “Our nation is depending on the next generations of scientists and engineers to help us solve the most challenging problems across a variety of industries. Any knowledge gained from the Space Force partnership is ultimately for the benefit of our society.”