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Melanie Stricklan

Space Workforce 2030 Names New Executive Director in Landmark Partnership

Melanie Stricklan to Spearhead Space Talent Initiative

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — March 18, 2024 — Space Foundation and Space Workforce 2030 are proud to announce the appointment of Melanie Stricklan as the inaugural Executive Director of Space Workforce 2030, a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort to build an inclusive workforce to meet the burgeoning demands of the space industry. Recognized for her exceptional technical and business leadership across the space industry, Stricklan brings a wealth of experience and innovation to this groundbreaking initiative.

Stricklan, a co-founder of Slingshot Aerospace and a passionate advocate for space workforce development, will play a pivotal role in the strategic partnership between Space Foundation and The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace), which helped initiate the Space Workforce effort and has provided extensive support since its inception. This partnership, which builds up the initiative’s early success and continued growth, leverages Space Foundation’s mission to accelerate the development of a dynamic and diverse space workforce.

Founded by Aerospace CEO Steve Isakowitz and launched in April 2022, Space Workforce 2030 brings together more than two dozen leading space companies behind the shared goal of increasing diversity and representation across the industry. It reflects a shared commitment to fostering the next generation of space professionals. The initiative’s early successes include…

About Space Foundation

Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, offering information, education and collaboration for the global space ecosystem. Driven by partnerships, Space Foundation unites the entire spectrum of stakeholders — business, government, education, and local communities — through support from corporate members, sponsors, fundraising, and grants. Visit Space Foundation at www.SpaceFoundation.org, and follow us on FacebookX, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About The Aerospace Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation is a national nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center and has more than 4,600 employees. With major locations in El Segundo, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the Washington, D.C. region, Aerospace addresses complex problems across the space enterprise and other areas of national and international significance through agility, innovation, and objective technical leadership. For more information, visit www.aerospace.org. Follow us on X: @AerospaceCorp.

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