::::: Governor's Workforce Investment Board Aerospace Industry Initiative

A great deal of Maryland’s Aerospace business is driven by NASA’s actions, and the employers must now look deeper into the out years than ever required. NASA’s long-term space agenda, which now focuses more on Robotic and Human Space Exploration, can significantly benefit Maryland Aerospace employers.

In addition to NASA, NAVAIR’s presence in southern Maryland also contributes significantly to the economic vitality of the State. NAVAIR has an operating budget in the realm of $22 billion annually. Not all of this funding is allocated in Maryland, but with a budget in the billions, and a workforce population of over 17,000, NAVAIR certainly wields considerable influence on the aerospace workforce activity.

In early 2004, President George W. Bush announced a new vision for America’s space program that calls for new missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The vision called for a return of regular Space Shuttle flights, the completion of the International Space Station (ISS), sending a Manned Orbiter and Lander to the Moon as soon as 2015 and no later than 2020. The President’s plan also called for Mars expeditions and Robotic Space Exploration across the solar system. Such an increase in the space program has not been seen since the Apollo era and represents an tremendous opportunity for expansion of Maryland’s Aerospace industry in coming years.