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 U.S. 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.
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Arizona U.S. Space Academy Steering Committee members
The Steering Committee members include:
- Governor Katie Hobbs
- Ambassador Barbara Barrett, former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, comprising the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force
- Laurie Leshin, Arizona State University, University Professor for Space Futures. Former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Pete Worden, Breakthrough Prize Foundation, chairman and Breakthrough Initiatives, executive director. Retired brigadier general of the U.S. Air Force and former director of Development and Transformation of the Air Force Space Command.
- Dr. Erika Hamden, University of Arizona, director of the Space Institute and associate professor of astrophysics
- Dr. David Trilling, Northern Arizona University, chair of the Department of Astronomy & Planetary Science and professor of astronomy & planetary science
- Dr. Sian Proctor, first female commercial spaceship pilot astronaut
- Brett Mecum, Arizona Space Commission, chair
- Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority, president and CEO
- Jim Cantrell, Phantom Space, CEO and co-founder
- Mayor Douglas Nicholls, Yuma, Arizona
- Mayor Clea McCaa, Sierra Vista, Arizona
- Steve Zylstra, Arizona Technology Council, president and CEO
