Last fall, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the University of Texas (UT) Austin signed agreements with the U.S. Space Force. According to UTEP, the memorandum of understanding between the University of Texas System and the military branch provides new opportunities for advanced research and workforce development.
Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David D. Thompson joined UTEP President Heather Wilson, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell, and Archie Holmes Jr., The University of Texas System executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, at the signing event at UTEP.
“At the heart of the Space Force’s University Partnership Program is the need to advance our science and technology to build the next generation of space capabilities coupled with the need to develop the workforce of the future,” Thompson said. “With a long history of leading aerospace research across the Paso del Norte region and beyond, we’re confident we can find such talent here at UTEP, at UT Austin, and across the UT System.”
The challenges facing the Space Force in protecting unfettered access to space requires a workforce with a deep understanding of the domain, who also possess the creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative ability to solve problems, Thompson said. The agreement with UTEP is one way in which the Space Force is building that future workforce.
“The University of Texas at El Paso has been engaged in aerospace research for decades. We are pleased to be able to support the Space Force as they develop the capabilities to protect America’s vital national interests in space,” President Wilson said. “This agreement further establishes the greater El Paso region as a leader in space flight and aerospace research.”
UTEP and UT Austin are two of 11 universities selected to join the Space Force University Partnership Program in 2021. The institutions were selected based on 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 pursuing higher education.
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