Eastern Florida State College Celebrates Grand Opening of Aerospace Center of Excellence

Eastern Florida State College celebrated the grand opening of its new Aerospace Center of Excellence on Tuesday, October 13. More than 100 community leaders, industry partners, elected officials, faculty, staff, and students gathered on the Titusville Campus to mark a major milestone in aerospace and aviation workforce education on Florida’s Space Coast.

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The Aerospace Center of Excellence was created to support the growing workforce needs of the aerospace and aviation industries, particularly those supporting human spaceflight efforts at Kennedy Space Center. The facility expands the College's Aerospace Technology program into North Brevard while also supporting EFSC’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program, which trains students in airframe and powerplant mechanics and prepares them to earn FAA certification.

"The Aerospace Center of Excellence reflects our commitment to providing state-of-the-art learning environments that connect education with industry needs," said Eastern Florida State College President Dr. Jim Richey. "As the aerospace and aviation industries continue to grow here on Florida's Space Coast, ACE will provide hands-on education and training to ensure students are prepared to support the next generation of aerospace and aviation innovation."

Located adjacent to Kennedy Space Center, ACE provides an ideal setting for aerospace and aviation education. The facility allows EFSC to expand its highly successful Aerospace Technology program, which remains based at the Cocoa Campus, while broadening opportunities for students in North Brevard. Many Cocoa Campus students currently participate in apprenticeships at Kennedy Space Center that frequently lead to employment immediately after graduation.

Key supporters of the Aerospace Center of Excellence initiative have included Lockheed Martin and ASRC Federal, which partner in support of NASA’s Orion program, and regularly take on interns who become fulltime employees. Blue Origin has also been a significant supporter. They helped develop the mechanical lab within ACE by donating a building compressor and helping with installation of the compressed air lines.

During the ceremony, Dr. Richey was joined by Nathan Varn, Production and System Test Director for Lockheed Martin, for the presentation of a flag that was flown aboard the International Space Station.
"Lockheed Martin is proud to support Eastern Florida State College and its efforts to prepare the next generation of aerospace professionals," said Varn. "Seeing the Aerospace Center of Excellence come to fruition is an important step in strengthening the talent pipeline that will help sustain America's leadership in space exploration and aerospace and defense innovation."

As commercial space companies continue to expand operations throughout the Space Coast region, ACE is expected to play a vital role in developing the highly skilled workforce those employers require. The facility will provide greater access to aerospace education for students in North Brevard while attracting students from Orlando and Volusia County, expanding the talent pool available to local employers. The College expects the Aerospace Technology Associate in Science degree program to eventually double in size as a result of the expansion.

Florida Sen. Debbie Mayfield said ACE’s educational programming will be crucial to meeting the region’s growing workforce needs.

“As the Space Coast aerospace industry continues to grow, it is vital that Brevard County has a strong workforce development pipeline to meet the industry’s evolving needs,” said Mayfield. “The new Aerospace Center of Excellence will help drive innovation, strengthen our workforce, and prepare the next generation for high-demand careers in aerospace. I am proud to support this effort at the state level as Florida continues to invest in workforce development that will keep the Space Coast at the forefront of aerospace and advanced manufacturing.”

The Aerospace Center of Excellence features specialized laboratories dedicated to electronics, metal fabrication, fluids and composites, providing students with hands-on experience using industry-standard equipment and technologies.

The facility also marks a significant new chapter for EFSC's Aviation Maintenance Technology program, which relocated to ACE through a transformation made possible by a $1.2 million state allocation approved by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022. The project included the conversion of a former campus gymnasium into specialized classrooms and laboratories, along with construction of a new aviation training hangar located adjacent to the facility.

"This is a significant step forward for our students and community that will provide excellent careers and spur local economic growth," said Dr. Richey.

"We were really excited to move to our new location in Titusville," said Rick McKee, EFSC’s Director of Aviation Programs. "The move provided us with the potential to expand beyond three cohorts and significantly increase the number of professionals entering the aviation industry."

With its strategic location, industry partnerships, and advanced training environments, the Aerospace Center of Excellence represents a substantial investment in the future of Florida's aerospace and aviation workforce while creating new educational and career opportunities for students throughout the region.

For more information on Eastern Florida State College, the Aerospace Technology or Aviation Maintenance programs, visit easternflorida.edu or call 321-632-1111.

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