The Space Force Association, a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit advocacy group, is launching a major education initiative after revealing that fewer than 10 percent of Americans even know the existence of the United States Space Force.

Why the Awareness Gap Matters

The Space Force, established in December 2019, is the U.S. military’s newest branch, focused on operations in, from, and to space. Yet despite its strategic importance, the public remains largely unaware of its role, mission, and impact on everyday life. At a recent event, the Space Force’s deputy chief of space operations for human capital noted that previous surveys estimated public awareness at under 8 percent.

This lack of awareness has real consequences. The SFA warns that education and workforce pipelines are under-prepared: recent analysis indicates that 90 percent of space-focused companies are actively seeking employees, with 75 percent reporting difficulties recruiting talent.

What the Association Is Doing

To address the awareness and workforce shortfall, the SFA is:

• Establishing chapters across the country, currently supporting 26 and aiming for one in every state, to host events and outreach campaigns about the Space Force and space careers.
• Launching the Space Professional Society for college students, offering scholarships, workshops and development opportunities to steer young people into space-related missions.
• Partnering with the Space Foundation in a two-year agreement to advance space awareness, teacher curricula, and student-engagement efforts nationwide.

Connecting Space to Daily Life

Retired Col. Bill Woolf, CEO of the SFA, often highlights how people use space technology dozens of times a day, whether via GPS navigation, weather forecasting, or telecommunications. His message: “You interact with space 50 times a day, you just don’t know it.”

The goal is two-fold: raise public awareness that space operations impact the economy, security and everyday life, and encourage students to view space as a viable career path.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Veteran talent base is limited. The Space Force, being a young service, lacks a large pool of military-retired personnel to serve as outreach and education ambassadors. A federal law enacted last year allows Air Force veterans who worked on space missions to be designated “Legacy Guardians” in the Space Force — helping build experienced outreach networks.
• Workforce demands are growing. With private-industry investment in space accelerating and national security interests rising, the need for skilled professionals in engineering, cybersecurity, satellite operations and space law is acute. The SFA is trying to build the pipeline early.
• Public perception and budget. Raising awareness also supports the Space Force’s argument for sustained funding and public support. When the branch remains low on recognition, it becomes harder to advocate for resources in the federal budget process.

Why It Matters for You

For younger readers, students, and Black or under-represented communities, this initiative opens a new frontier of opportunity. As the SFA pushes awareness and careers in space, it’s creating “on-ramps” into STEM, aerospace and defense, fields where diversity and inclusion historically lagged.

For readers of BlackExcos.com, the story underscores a broader theme: representation and access matter, whether in education, entertainment or even space. The next generation of space professionals shouldn’t just reflect the status quo. They should reflect the full diversity of America.