San José State University Named an Academic Engagement Enterprise Member by US Space Command

The Academic Engagement Enterprise (AEE), led by US Space Command, intends to engage in the future workforce and increase space-applied research and innovations, along with other priorities. Image courtesy of US Space Command.

By Derrick Meyer

The US Space Command, a government agency responsible for delivering space capabilities to joint and combined forces and protecting and defending the space domain, has officially welcomed San José State University (SJSU) to its Academic Engagement Enterprise (AEE). The AEE aims to encourage relationships between cutting-edge institutions and the US Space Command.

With this new collaboration, the US Space Command intends to engage in the future workforce, increase space-applied research and innovations, broaden analytic partnerships and enhance the strategic dialogue on the topic of space.  

“San José State University and the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering have a long tradition of teaching and research in aeronautical engineering, and later aerospace engineering. With the increase in US commercial and defense-related activities in space and the launch of the United States Space Force, we are excited to join the AEE. Our participation in the AEE will boost our student and faculty capacity to contribute to advancing our nation’s interests in this area,” said Sheryl Ehrman, dean of the College of Engineering.

Shaping the future workforce would create a more diverse, vigorous, and available pool of qualified space professionals for military and civilian roles within the Space Mission Force. State-of-the-art space applied research and innovation will improve understanding of technical and non-technical (policy, law, threat trends) options, problems, solutions and groundbreaking opportunities.

“San José State University is the epicenter of the future, and this new partnership with U.S. Space Command highlights our leadership in the space domain. This collaboration will provide students and faculty with unique opportunities to advance research and innovation in space technologies, while preparing a highly skilled workforce to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As the public university of Silicon Valley, SJSU has always been visionary and innovative in our approach to emerging industries, and we look forward to contributing our collective talents to this critical enterprise,” said SJSU President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson. 

The US Space Command aims to advance understanding of adversary space strategies and capabilities by sharing its most challenging problems with academia. This is all to advance the understanding of adversary space strategies and capabilities while creating opportunities for diverse groups of students to pursue space education and careers, which echoes the values of SJSU.

“The SJSU College of Science prides itself on providing basic and applied research opportunities to students across our disciplines so that they gain skills that can be used to address some of the nation’s biggest challenges. These skills, including advanced computing, machine learning, applied mathematics, and remote sensing align well with the needs of the United States Space Force. This partnership will ensure that College of Science faculty and students can fully contribute to addressing those challenges,” said Michael Kaufman, dean of the College of Science.

Other AEE members include Columbia Southern University, Embry-Riddle University, Georgia Tech, Lewis-Burke Associated LLC, National Cybersecurity Center (NCC), New Mexico Tech, Norwich University, University at Buffalo, The University of Arizona, University of Colorado – Boulder, University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. The University of New Mexico, The University of North Dakota, The University of Texas at Austin, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense School and the United States Army War College.

Learn more about the AEE.