Antelope Valley College has been selected to lead the Southern California NASA Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce Hub, a regional partnership connecting technical education and practical work experience with pathways into aerospace employment.
NASA's Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce Hubs initiative provides awards of up to $1.5 million over three years to support state and regional aerospace workforce partnerships.
Working with Pasadena City College and MiraCosta College, AVC will bring together aerospace employers, K–12 education and workforce development partners to align training with industry and NASA mission needs. The partnership will help prepare students for aerospace careers, including technical roles that do not require a bachelor’s degree. This program allows meaningful coordination between higher education institutions and industry to develop a competent, strong workforce for the aerospace industry.
“Antelope Valley College's Aerospace program has been on the cutting edge of workforce training and industry partnerships for many years,” said AVC President/Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Zellet. “Being awarded the NASA Workforce Hub Grant brings this leadership to the fore and solidifies our place as trailblazers in creative programming and partnerships. I'm grateful to those who worked so diligently on this grant, particularly Prof. Alfred Brubaker and Dr. Maria Clinton-Houck.”
At AVC, the Aerospace Non-Destructive Inspection pathway offers an example of this approach, connecting classroom and laboratory training with internship experience in aerospace inspection. The Hub will build on that connection through employer collaboration and support the development of additional work-based learning opportunities across the region.
“Each college brings different technical programs, expertise, and employer relationships,” said Dr. Maria Clinton-Houck, interim dean of AVC’s Aerospace, Industrial Arts and Applied Technologies Division. “Working together allows us to share curriculum resources, coordinate credential pathways, and develop a broader network of work-based learning opportunities across Southern California.”
Industry partners will help validate the skills taught through participating programs. The colleges will also share successful practices to help strengthen aerospace workforce training throughout the region.
