Today, Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, and the Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) announced plans to begin implementation of the Space Florida Academy Program. The announcement was highlighted by a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long and Superintendent Marcus Chambers during the 9th annual Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network (TeCMEN) Industry Day at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, marking a significant step toward expanding workforce development opportunities for students seeking careers in the rapidly-growing global aerospace sector.
The Space Florida Academy Program helps students earn high-demand credentials and develop skills needed for aerospace jobs. These industry-recognized credentials open immediate career opportunities and give students a competitive edge as they enter the workforce, including pathways not traditionally linked to aerospace.
In collaboration with industry leaders, the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Commerce, the REACH Office (Reimagining Education and Career Help), and CareerSource Florida, the program focuses on reframing aerospace job pathways by emphasizing the following high-demand sectors:
Aviation/Aerospace
Advanced Manufacturing
Construction
Cybersecurity/ITLogistics
Semiconductors
“The Space Florida Academy Program offers a new trajectory for students to explore careers in aerospace by breaking down legacy perceptions of what an aerospace career requires,” said Rob Long, President and CEO of Space Florida. “By bringing industry together with education, the program helps highlight these opportunities and identifies what is truly needed now, and in the future, to meet workforce demands.”
“This partnership represents an incredible opportunity for our students to access high-demand, high-wage career pathways while still in high school,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “By aligning our programs with industry needs, we are not only preparing students for success after graduation but also strengthening the future workforce right here in Okaloosa County.”
“We applaud this new partnership between Space Florida and the Okaloosa County School District,” said Nathan Sparks, Executive Director, One Okaloosa EDC. “Thanks to innovative efforts like the Space Florida Academy Program, Okaloosa County is incredibly well-positioned to provide the future talent pipeline required by both our existing and prospective employers.”
Nearly every high school in Florida offers some level of credentialing and certificate programs that are considered desirable by the aerospace industry. Reframing these courses under the Space Florida Academy Program highlights clear pathways to well-paying careers that can begin with a high school diploma.
For more information about the Space Florida Academy Program, please visit www.spaceflorida.gov/workforce-initiatives.