By Kathryn B. Creedy, President, NCASE
The National Coalition for Aviation & Space Education (NCASE) is moving forward with new energy to create something neither educators nor industry has ever done before – an aviation/aerospace education ecosystem leading to an Early Learning-to-Career Pipeline.
This exciting new mission for NCASE comes after 40 years of failed government and industry efforts to develop our workforce and provide career pathways for the future workforce.
What few in industry understand is the many workforce efforts already existing, especially over the last several years as private nonprofits inspire kids to pursue aviation and aerospace careers. With this army, NCASE will become a funnel to the best of the best education programs already existing, guiding parents, educators, guidance counselors and, of course, students to the powerful resources in their own communities.
NCASE has been working with these nonprofits which include Women in Aviation International, the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Organization of Black Aerospace Professional, Civil Air Patrol and many others who are teaming to give industry what it needs to create the future workforce. The idea is to connect the dots between educators and local chapters of WAI and other group education organizations, local career and technical education officials, local government workforce development officials and the hundreds of STEM educators already in our communities promoting coding and robotics. Of paramount importance is bringing the industry on board to help us get the job done but I believe this is possible given the crisis we face and the cost of not coming together in this effort.
That describes the future for NCASE, but I should introduce myself and why I have been elected to lead the charge. I am editor of Future Aviation/Aerospace Workforce News and a veteran aviation journalist who has covered the industry for 40 years. In focusing on our workforce issues for more than 15 years, I’ve watched many organizations identify workforce as a key driver and develop programs to inspire kids to think aviation and aerospace when considering careers. And it’s not just about the kids. Given the workforce disruption prompted by AI, we need to offer those affected a second act.
No Need for a New Wheel
Absolutely everything we need has already been invented by the private sector – mostly groups like those representing Latinos, Blacks, women and LGBTQ and groups who have developed education programs. But to access it we send people all over the internet to ferret out both the opportunities and the pathways. We must organize all these resources into a 35,000-foot view of our careers including how much they will make in their first year and within five years, the cost of getting there, the pathways to take and how to pay for it. Why? Because we are competing against every other industry for the same population and losing the battle.
We are Promoting Aviation, Aerospace Careers All Wrong
The good news is we have the Choose Aerospace, AOPA High School STEM and Space Foundation curricula. We have AeroEducate from the Experimental Aircraft Association. We even have a PBS education series thanks to the National Aviation Hall of Fame. We also have a game plan represented by the recommendations of the Congressionally mandated Youth Access to Aviation Jobs in America Task Force (YIATF) and it will be part of NCASE’s new mission to bring those recommendations to fruition.
Building a Strong K-to-Career Aviation/Aerospace Pipeline
All it needs is organization and that is the job of NCASE and its partners.
In a few weeks we will be sending out invitations to renew your membership or join. We need seed money to launch this effort on behalf of the industry and those already delivering the workforce. We also need worker bees to help us move forward so if you are associated with aviation/aerospace education and want to become part of our mission contact me at kcreedy@kathrynbcreedy.com
NCASE has always been a valuable resource, and its next steps include creating a scholarship alert, a new website, and building the coalition. The board and I look forward to working with you to deliver the resources you need.
