Space Florida, Okaloosa County School District partner on aerospace workforce program

Space Florida and the Okaloosa County School District have signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the Space Florida Academy Program, a workforce development initiative designed to connect students with career pathways in the aerospace industry.

• The ceremonial signing took place Wednesday during the ninth annual Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network Industry Day at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long and Superintendent Marcus Chambers signed the agreement.

The program helps students earn industry-recognized credentials in high-demand sectors tied to aerospace, including aviation, advanced manufacturing, construction, cybersecurity and IT, logistics, and semiconductors. Officials say the credentials open immediate career opportunities and give students a competitive advantage entering the workforce.

The initiative is a collaboration between Space Florida, the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Commerce, the REACH Office and CareerSource Florida.

“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,” Long said. “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.”

Chambers said the partnership gives Okaloosa County students access to high-demand, high-wage career pathways while still in high school.

• “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,” Chambers said.

Nathan Sparks, executive director of One Okaloosa EDC, said the partnership positions the county to provide the talent pipeline required by existing and prospective employers.

Nearly every high school in Florida offers some level of credentialing and certificate programs considered desirable by the aerospace industry, according to Space Florida. The academy program reframes those existing courses to highlight clear pathways to careers that can begin with a high school diploma.

More information is available at spaceflorida.gov/workforce-initiatives.

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