Intrepid Museum awarded $750,000 national leadership grant from Institute of Museum and Library Services to expand aerospace career pathways

The Intrepid Museum has been awarded a $750,000 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to create new pathways for young people to explore careers in the aerospace industry. The three-year initiative, From Curiosity to Career: A Museum's Role in Future-Focused Career Pathways, will introduce youth to the wide range of careers that make aerospace possible, connect them with industry professionals and educators and help them identify next steps in their trajectory. The project will also bring together Intrepid Museum educators and industry partners to develop a model for how museums can support career exploration and workforce development in their communities.

The project will solidify the Intrepid Museum's Aerospace Career Hub, an initiative designed to address gaps between students' interest in aerospace and the education, training and career pathways needed to enter the field. More than 2,000 New York City youth, from upper elementary students through young adults, will benefit from programming that introduces them to the breadth of possibilities within aerospace and helps them find the subjects, skills and career paths that align with their individual interests.

"Aerospace is often associated with astronauts and pilots, but there are countless people behind every mission, aircraft and spacecraft whose work makes these achievements possible," said Dr. Lynda Kennedy, vice president of Education and Evaluation at the Intrepid Museum and project director. "Our goal is to help young people see themselves in that larger story. By introducing them to the many careers within aerospace and connecting them with people working in the field, we can help them identify the subjects and skills that excite them and begin to see where their curiosity could lead."

The Aerospace Career Hub will draw from the Intrepid Museum's existing education programs and relationships with Cornell University's New York Consortium for Space Technology, CUNY schools, New York City Public Schools and Empire Space, working to align career awareness, education and certification pathways with opportunities for mentorship, internships and industry engagement.

The initiative was informed by research conducted for the Museum that identified a disconnect between growing demand for aerospace workers and the pathways available to students exploring careers in the field. Students, educators and guidance counselors often lack information about aerospace career options, required skills and the steps needed to pursue them. The project will begin career awareness early with exposure events for young children, moving into a particular focus on middle and high school students, while also equipping the adults who guide young people with information about emerging opportunities.

Programming will include hands-on learning experiences, career awareness events, mentorship opportunities, educator and counselor engagement, industry convenings and workforce development programs. Beyond serving young people in New York City, the project will explore how museums anywhere can use their collections, expertise and community connections to become more active participants in workforce development. The Intrepid Museum will evaluate the initiative and document its findings in a digital white paper, along with conference presentations and practitioner convenings, creating a framework that other museums can adapt to their own communities and regional industries.

The Aerospace Career Hub also advances the Intrepid Museum's broader commitment to connecting visitors and learners with aviation, space and STEM education. By bringing together young people, educators, training institutions and industry partners, the initiative will strengthen access to aerospace career opportunities while helping build a more connected regional talent pipeline.