NASA must take specific and immediate action to meet a coming aerospace workforce crisis head on, John Douglass, president and chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries Association, told Congress Tuesday.
Testifying before the House Space and Aeronautics subcommittee, Douglass said the space agency must focus on attracting the next generation of NASA workers through direct outreach and cooperation with the industry.
Maintaining a dynamic workforce in both NASA and the companies that support the agency will have far-reaching effects, he said.
"NASA must remain aware that a healthy aerospace workforce holds the key to America's national security and economic competitiveness," Douglass said.
The subcommittee convened the hearing – "The NASA Workforce: Does NASA Have the Right Strategy and Policies to Retain and Build the Workforce it Will Need?" – to examine how the agency and the industry are facing workforce challenges as existing employees age, with many nearing retirement.
The problem, as witnesses explained, is the number of young people in high school and college choosing aerospace career tracks is insufficient to fill the vacancies.
In answer to a question from a committee member, Douglass said despite the challenge, he is confident the aerospace industry can provide the personnel, facilities and flexibility to absorb additional work from NASA under its new Vision for Space Exploration.
He said the AIA is supporting a bill (H.R. 758) introduced by Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Mich., that would establish a federal task force on revitalizing the aerospace workforce as a way to serve the needs of NASA and the industry.
