L3Harris Awards Grant to Space Foundation
Will Support Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT) Program
L3Harris Technologies has awarded a $75,000 grant to Space Foundation to inspire the next generation of aerospace leaders worldwide.
“This critical funding will bolster education programs tailored to inspire STEM interest among youth, enhancing local and regional connections to these essential disciplines.”
Mel Stricklan, Space Workforce for Tomorrow
The funding will fuel STEM initiatives under Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT), engaging young space enthusiasts and deepening community ties to these fields. SWFT works to close the national STEM talent gap, highlight career paths, and build a workforce for the growing space industry, from classrooms to boardrooms.
“We’re deeply grateful to L3Harris for their ongoing support in our mission to inspire, prepare and employ the next generation of space explorers,” said Mel Stricklan, executive director of Space Workforce for Tomorrow. “This critical funding will bolster education programs tailored to inspire STEM interest among youth, enhancing local and regional connections to these essential disciplines.”
L3Harris contributed a $50,000 grant to host a Space in the Community (SITC) event for Pueblo, Colorado on March 13, 2025, including visits to 10 schools in Pueblo School Districts 60 and 70 and a Community Night at Pueblo Community College. SITC aims to inspire students through hands-on STEM activities, empower teachers with professional development, and engage communities through special events. For Space Foundation’s National Space Day community event on Saturday, May 3, 2025, the company also contributed $25,000 to the National Space Sustainability Competition, which encourages middle school students to tackle the challenges of orbital debris and promote innovative solutions for sustainable space exploration.
“Over the past decade, L3Harris employees have volunteered thousands of hours, and our company has contributed financially to the Space Foundation and STEM programs,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “We’re honored to continue that investment to help inspire and excite our industry’s future workforce.”
The grant underscores L3Harris’s commitment to advancing aerospace innovation through education, aligning with Space Foundation’s efforts to build a robust space workforce pipeline.