Governor Katie Hobbs Announces Statewide Effort to Secure United States Space Academy for Arizona

Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the creation of the Arizona U.S. Space Academy Steering Committee to lead the state’s efforts to secure the United States Space Academy.

“Arizona is bringing together the state’s pre-eminent leaders on space science and exploration, representing our world-class universities, industry partners, local communities and the Arizona Space Commission to build a strong proposal for NASA,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Together, we are going to secure the US Space Academy for our state and continue Arizona’s dominance in cutting-edge advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and science and engineering.”

The United States Space Academy is a proposed American service academy for space-related operations. It was announced in an Executive Order by President Trump on August 28, 2026 to act as a training academy for NASA. The Steering Committee will work across public and private sectors to advise Arizona’s proposal to host the Academy and highlight the state’s unique position as a leader in the aerospace and defense industries, cutting-edge science and research and high-tech advanced manufacturing economy.

Arizona has what it takes:

• World-class space science and research
• Deep experience supporting NASA missions
• A leading aerospace and defense industry
• Universities and community colleges training the next generation
• The land to build for the future

The Steering Committee members include:

1. Governor Katie Hobbs
2. Ambassador Barbara Barrett, former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, comprising the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force 
3. Laurie Leshin, Arizona State University, University Professor for Space Futures. Former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4. Pete Worden, Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Chairman and Breakthrough Initiatives, Executive Director. Retired Brigadier General of the US Air Force and former Director of Development and Transformation of the Air Force Space Command.
5. Dr. Erika Hamden, University of Arizona, Director of the Space Institute and Associate Professor of Astrophysics 
6. Dr. David Trilling, Northern Arizona University, Chair of the Department of Astronomy & Planetary Science and Professor of Astronomy & Planetary Science 
7. Dr. Sian Proctor, first female commercial spaceship pilot astronaut 
8. Brett Mecum, Arizona Space Commission, Chair
9. Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority, President and CEO 
10. Jim Cantrell, Phantom Space, CEO and Co-Founder
11. Mayor Douglas Nicholls, Yuma, Arizona
12. Mayor Clea McCaa, Sierra Vista, Arizona
13. Steve Zylstra, Arizona Technology Council, President and CEO