Wright State joins selective U.S. Space Command Academic Engagement Enterprise

Wright State University joins a select group of institutions nationwide in U.S. Space Command’s Academic Engagement Enterprise, creating new opportunities for student involvement in space research and workforce development.

Wright State University has earned full membership in the U.S. Space Command’s Academic Engagement Enterprise, giving students expanded access to real-world space and defense challenges while placing Wright State among a select group of universities and professional military education institutions nationwide.

“Joining Space Command’s Academic Engagement Enterprise will enhance Wright State’s technical exchanges with the Space Force to ensure we are addressing their most pressing needs, while also creating valuable opportunities for students to engage in real‑world challenges inside and outside the classroom,” said Darryl Ahner, Ph.D., dean of Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Wright State’s academic and research programs align closely with Space Command’s mission, Ahner said, driven in part by the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s research strengths in space access, space situational awareness, orbital systems and advanced materials and electronics that can operate in space.

That work is also influenced by Wright State’s unique proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory, which allows faculty and students to focus research on Air Force and Space Force challenges and priorities.

The university will collaborate with U.S. Space Command and peer institutions to:

• Develop a strong pipeline of qualified military and civilian professionals
• Advance applied space research and innovation
• Expand academic partnerships through research projects and faculty exchanges
• Foster dialogue on space strategy

Universities in the program gain access to space learning standards, exclusive events with senior leaders, guest speakers and opportunities for collaborative research, internships and exercises.