Building a Better NASA Workforce: Meeting the Workforce Needs for the National Vision for Space Exploration (2007)
Chapter: B Statement of Task
B
Statement of Task
The Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board will organize a study to explore long-range science and technology workforce needs to achieve the nation’s long-term space exploration vision, identify obstacles to filling those needs, and explore solutions for consideration by government, academia, and industry. The study will focus on the particular needs of NASA and the larger aerospace science and engineering community and will undertake the following tasks:
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Assess current and projected demographics of the U.S. aerospace engineering and space science workforce needed to accomplish the exploration vision;
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Identify factors that impact the demographics of the affected workforces;
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Assess NASA’s list of the workforce skills that will be needed to implement the Vision for Space Exploration, both within the government and in industry;
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Identify the skills needed to implement NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration within the academic community;
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Assess the current workforce against projected needs;
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Identify workforce gaps and analyze obstacles to responding to the workforce needs, and in particular, analyze the proper role of academia and the obstacles for achieving this proper role; and
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Develop recommendations for specific actions by the federal government, industry, and academia to address those needs, including considerations such as organizational changes, recruiting and hiring practices, student programs, and existing workforce training and improvement.
