MONTGOMERY – On July 26-30, MGMWERX is hosting the Summer Workshop on Teaching Space (SWOTS), an educational event gathering forty attendees from academia, private sector, and military space specialties to partake in a 5-day intensive, space-focused workshop. Nearly 30 speakers are sharing their expertise on everything space – including, but not limited to, space mechanics, theory, history, future, warfare, security, policy, development, and venture capital.
“SWOTS will provide military institute instructors applicable information they may share with senior military leaders pertaining to all space services, not just from the Space Force and Air Force,” explained Dr. Gregory Miller, a director of SWOTS and Professor of Military and Security Studies at the Air Command and Staff College. “Civilian professionals will also benefit from the workshop through the teaching and research provided to assist in the instruction of the next generation of space policy makers and strategists, as well as the scientists and engineers that will make space more achievable.”
SWOTS seeks to provide education for industry experts in their advocacy of the Air Force, Space Force, academia, and the nation. The event will offer concentrated tutelage pertaining to the fundamentals of space, techniques for teaching about space, and networking of high-level government and private sector leaders in the space industry.
Jim Bridenstine, Senior Advisor to Acorn Growth Companies, a private equity firm investing exclusively in aerospace, defense, and intelligence, will be providing the keynote speech. Also present for the event will be DeAnna Burt, United States Space Force major general serving as the commander of Combined Force Space Component Command and deputy commander of Space Operations Command. Maj. Gen. Burt will be present for an evening networking event.
Participants may expect to leave acquainted with current issues regarding US space policy and best-practice solutions through the knowledge sharing of industry experts, such as keynote speaker Jim Bridenstine, who prior to his position at Acorn Growth Companies, resided as the 13th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
“By providing t
his caliber of speakers and networking opportunities through SWOTS, the Air Force’s Space Force will greatly benefit from having a greater depth of scholars studying some of the most important topics related to space, as well as a broader range of students interested in making a career out of space.” explained Dr. Gregory Miller
SWOTS was developed by the faculty at the United States Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College, located at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL. The workshop is supported by the partnership between the Air University and MGMWERX with the help of community partners like Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) and lots of local businesses. Workshop sessions will be held in downtown Montgomery. The workshop seeks to not only acquaint participants with the current US and global space policy issues, but also classic experience on the subject.
“We are honored to facilitate connections that will ultimately change people’s lives, communities, and the world,” stated Trent Edwards, Director of MGMWERX. “It’s what we do at MGMWERX – it’s our just cause as a collaboration and innovation hub.”
MGMWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement to align with the education initiatives of Air University. MGMWERX augments ongoing Air University programs, through events like Pitch Night, to enhance the production of high-quality, innovative research and ideas that span issues of importance to the Air Force. This includes, but is not limited to, doctrine, strategies, capability needs, operational concepts, training, education, and science and technology.