Safran DSI Partners with Colorado Space Institute to Strengthen the U.S. Space Workforce
Parker, Colorado –
Safran Defense & Space, Inc. (Safran DSI) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the Colorado Space Institute (CSI) at Arapahoe Community College (ACC) to help strengthen the technical workforce supporting U.S. space programs and national space priorities.
This collaboration aligns with the opening of Safran DSI’s new electric propulsion manufacturing facility in Parker, Colorado, and underscores the company’s long-term commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing, workforce development, and the advancement of the domestic space ecosystem.
As part of the partnership, Safran DSI will support professional development workshops, industry engagement opportunities, and curriculum collaboration that enable CSI’s participation in NASA’s Aerospace State Hubs initiative—a nationwide effort to build sustainable training and education pipelines for the next generation of aerospace technicians and operations professionals.
“The future of U.S. space leadership depends on a highly skilled, mission-ready workforce,” said Chris Keeler, President of the Space Business Unit at Safran Defense & Space, Inc. “Our partnership with the Colorado Space Institute at Arapahoe Community College is a strategic investment in people, capability, and long-term resilience. As we expand our electric propulsion manufacturing footprint in Parker, this collaboration ensures we are developing local talent with the technical rigor, security awareness, and professional skills required to support critical national space programs—today and for decades to come.”
Supporting NASA’s Aerospace Workforce Mission
CSI at ACC was recently selected through a competitive national process to serve as one of 15 NASA Aerospace Workforce Hubs across the United States. These hubs play a central role in NASA’s mission to help the nation add more than one million skilled technicians and operations professionals to the aerospace workforce by 2030.
Located just 20 minutes from Safran DSI’s Parker facility, CSI is uniquely positioned to support Colorado’s rapidly growing space economy. According to Grace Crain-Wright, Director of the Colorado Space Institute, CSI is also under consideration to become a Lead NASA Space Hub, reflecting its expanding national influence and leadership role in workforce development.
Industry-Driven Training Aligned with Space Mission Needs
Safran DSI is one of 14 leading aerospace companies—alongside organizations such as Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab, and Albedo—serving on CSI’s Industry Advisory Board. Through this role, Safran DSI actively supports curriculum development to ensure training programs align with real-world industry and government mission requirements.
CSI plans to expand training and credentialing programs in high-demand technical and professional areas, including:
• Electronics and electrical systems
• Technical report writing and documentation
• IPC certifications
• Additive manufacturing
• Computer-aided design (CAD), Linux, and scripting languages such as Python and C++
• Professional skills including leadership, management, communications, and collaboration
• High-value certifications such as security clearances, IAT Level II, and CompTIA Security+
These programs are designed to produce job-ready talent capable of supporting space manufacturing, propulsion systems, systems integration, and operational readiness across government and commercial space programs.
Strengthening Colorado’s Space Economy Through Collaboration
The partnership also aligns with broader statewide workforce and economic development efforts. Aerospace Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Colorado’s aerospace ecosystem, has formally expressed its support for CSI at ACC’s designation as a NASA Aerospace Workforce Hub.
Aerospace Colorado plans to support CSI’s statewide programming through curriculum development, student outreach, workshops, internships, and advocacy—further strengthening the aerospace talent pipeline across the state.
A Long-Term Investment in U.S. Space Capability
For Safran DSI, this partnership represents a foundational pillar in growing both the company and its Space Solutions business, combining advanced manufacturing capabilities with deliberate investment in workforce development.
By supporting CSI’s role as a NASA Aerospace Workforce Hub, Safran DSI is helping ensure that the next generation of technicians, engineers, and leaders is equipped with the skills required to sustain U.S. leadership in space—now and in the future.