PTCC Selected as Core College Partner in NASA-Sponsored Aerospace Workforce Initiative

Pine Technical & Community College (PTCC) has been selected as a core college partner in a NASA-sponsored initiative positioning Minnesota to prepare the next generation of skilled technical workers for high-demand careers in aerospace and defense.

The Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence was selected by NASA as one of just seven Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce State Hubs in the nation and the only hub located in the Midwest. Through a three-year, $1.5 million initiative, Minnesota State will bring together colleges, aerospace employers, workforce development organizations and economic development partners to expand industry-aligned education, training, apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities.

PTCC, along with Dakota County Technical College and Ridgewater College, will serve as a core college partner in the Minnesota Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce (MnASTW) Hub – led by the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence. PTCC will help prepare students in Automated Systems, Machining and Welding for careers supporting Minnesota’s growing aerospace and defense industry.

For PTCC, the initiative creates an opportunity to connect students with emerging technologies and career pathways in an industry that extends far beyond traditional perceptions of aerospace, with offers and opportunities right here in Minnesota.

“The NASA-sponsored MnASTW Hub is an industry-transformative opportunity for Pine Technical and Community College and our students,” said Dr. Ryan Haaland, Dean of Industry and Applied Professional Programs at PTCC. “It connects our students and programs to career opportunities at the cutting edge of aerospace and defense technology, doing some of the most exciting work anyone can imagine. These are the types of opportunities that inspired me in my own career path. Even more exciting is that there are opportunities right down the road, here in Minnesota. We are incredibly excited to engage and inspire the next generation of rocket scientists.”

Haaland brings firsthand experience in aerospace and space-related research to PTCC’s efforts. His career began as a rocket scientist at Edwards Air Force Base during an era that included Space Shuttle landings and the development of stealth aircraft. He later taught physics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he conducted research involving nanosatellites and upper atmospheric science. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics from the University of Oxford.

The NASA State Hubs initiative is designed to address the growing national need for skilled technical talent as the aerospace economy expands and the nation advances priorities related to human space exploration, advanced manufacturing, propulsion systems, and aerospace innovation.

The Minnesota hub will establish pathways from high school career and technical programs into community and technical college programs, registered apprenticeships, industry credentials and direct employment. Training will align with employer demand in areas including welding, precision machining, automation, robotics, avionics, nondestructive testing and systems integration. The initiative will also incorporate NASA mission content, security-clearance readiness modules, work-based learning experiences and professional development for educators.

Over the three-year initiative, the Minnesota State hub aims to:

• Enroll 1,800 to 2,400 students in aerospace-aligned pathways and award 500 to 700 aerospace-specific credentials.
• Establish 140 to 200 new registered apprenticeships and internships.
• Reach 1,000 to 1,400 high school students through career awareness and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Provide professional development for educators and strengthen aerospace-focused curriculum statewide.

The opportunity comes as demand for skilled technical workers continues to grow across Minnesota’s aerospace sector. According to Lightcast data for 2024–2026, Minnesota employers posted more than 8,000 aerospace-related job openings across more than 830 companies, with 99 percent requiring less than a bachelor’s degree. The average salary for these positions exceeds $62,000 annually, with demand spanning areas such as machining, aircraft maintenance, automation and advanced manufacturing.

For PTCC students, the initiative provides another connection between the college’s hands-on technical programs and the high-demand industries driving Minnesota’s economy. With expanded facilities and investments in technical education, PTCC is preparing students to work with the advanced equipment, technologies and systems employers need today, while creating pathways to the careers of tomorrow.

The MnASTW Hub includes partnerships with Dakota County Technical College, Pine Technical & Community College and Ridgewater College, along with aerospace, workforce and economic development partners including North Wind, Collins Aerospace, Hartzell Aerospace Welding, PAR Systems, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minnesota Space Grant Consortium, NASA Glenn Research Center and NASA Langley Research Center. The long-term goal is to expand partnerships with campuses and industry throughout the state.

Minnesota was selected alongside organizations in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Utah.