BY JOLEY ABRAMS | MGMWERX MARKETING MANAGER
Press Release
MONTGOMERY – On July 25-29, the Summer Workshop on Teaching Space (SWOTS) has returned to Air University’s Innovation Hub, MGMWERX, for a second year. SWOTS is an educational event gathering 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 is a one-stop shop to get smart on U.S. space policy, strategy, space power theory, comparative national space strategy, the basics of space and spacecraft design, space law and of course, commercial space.” explained Peter Garretson, a SWOTS attendee and speaker.
SWOTS seeks to provide education for industry experts in their advocacy of the Air Force, Space Force, academia, and the nation. The event offers 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.
Dr. George Nield, President of Commercial Space Technologies, LLC, which was founded to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space activities, provided the kick-off keynote speech. Also present for the event was Tim Chrisman, Executive Director of Foundation For the Future and Col. Niki Lindhorst, Commander, Space Delta 13.
The workshop seeks to not only acquaint participants with the current US and global space policy issues, but also classic experience on the subject. They were updated on current technologies and best-practice solutions through the knowledge sharing of industry experts, such as Dr. Nield, a Blue Origins astronaut.
“By providing this 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 Alabama Power and lots of local businesses. Workshop sessions were held at the MGMWERX location in downtown Montgomery.
“MGMWERX is honored for the opportunity to host SWOTS 2022,” stated Joyce Vaughn, Director of MGMWERX. “It is a great presentation of the many methodologies used to teach space to all space industry professionals.”
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.