MELFA – The SpaceTEC® National Science Foundation (NSF) National Resource Center for Aerospace Technical Education held its annual meeting at Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC) February 11-12.  Over 20 aerospace and technical college representative from across the nation presented their 2013 accomplishments and planned their upcoming work. 

The group was welcomed by ESCC President Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover, and heard a keynote presentation on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) by Zig Leszczynski, Deputy Executive Director of the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority.  The conference finished with a tour of the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, including the launch control room, NSROC sounding rocket program, Antares rocket assembly building, and the MARS launch pads.  Dr. Glover stated that “Eastern Shore Community College was delighted to have been selected as the host for the 2014 Annual SpaceTEC® meeting.  Our previous MentorLinks and NSF involvements have afforded us the opportunity to connect with major players in the area of aerospace technician training.  As an authorized CertTEC® Testing Center, the college is positioned to certify aerospace technicians in a variety of areas, which could support some of the anticipated future activities at NASA WFF in the UAS arena.

SpaceTEC® promotes and educates candidates for technical employment through certification programs which offer performance-based examinations that result in industry-driven nationally recognized credentials that reflect the competencies employers demand. The certification program is offered through a nation-wide consortium of community and technical colleges, universities, business and industry organizations, and government agencies. Eastern Shore Community College became a SpaceTEC® partner in 2012.  Located in Cape Canaveral, FL., SpaceTEC® is funded in part by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.

Photo Caption:  Zig Leszczynski, Deputy Executive Director of the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority, presenting the keynote address on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS).

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