The United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) has welcomed the University of Nevada, Reno into the Academic Engagement Enterprise. The enterprise consists of universities and professional military education institutions with space, cyberspace and research expertise. 

The Academic Engagement Enterprise was established in 2022. Its purpose is to grow the capabilities of the future space workforce, increase space-applied research and innovation, improve access and understanding of space studies and facilitate more global dialogue about space. More than 40 universities and institutions across the United States are part of the enterprise.

“This new partnership with USSPACECOM is an important step in enhancing collaborations with higher education through the Academic Engagement Enterprise. Through this mutually beneficial relationship, our students and faculty will gain access to leaders in the field of spacepower while we provide the industry with a pipeline of skilled graduates ready to take on the next generation challenges of space-applied research and innovation,” Executive Vice President and Provost Jeff Thompson said. “Additionally, this partnership will support a new public space-focused lecture series open to the community. We are very excited to have a new interdisciplinary collaboration, which will support students and faculty across the University and is particularly aligned with the University’s new aerospace engineering program.”

Participation in this elite group offers the University access to defense-level space learning outcomes, exclusive events and guest speakers hosted by USSPACECOM, and collaborative research, technology integration, student internships and more.

The University’s new aerospace engineering department was announced in fall 2023 and was made possible thanks to a $36 million individual gift from the George W. Gillemot Foundation.