Drake State, Blue Origin Build New Pathways to Space Manufacturing Careers

Drake State Community & Technical College and Blue Origin are partnering to train Huntsville residents for careers in space manufacturing through ATLAS (Advanced Training & Learning Academy for Space), a registered apprenticeship program that combines technical instruction with hands-on industry experience.

The program launched in Alabama in October with an inaugural cohort of 10 machinist apprentices. Participants divide their time between classroom instruction at Drake State and paid, hands-on training at Blue Origin’s manufacturing facilities, developing the specialized skills required to produce hardware for spaceflight.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Huntsville’s skilled workforce while creating pathways for residents to participate in the region’s growing aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing industries.

“Partnerships like this connect education directly to opportunity,” said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State Community & Technical College. “As Huntsville continues to grow as a center for aerospace and advanced manufacturing, we have a responsibility to ensure that members of our community have access to the skills and training these industries require. By working with Blue Origin, we are creating pathways to careers that offer economic mobility, while helping employers develop the skilled workforce they need.”

ATLAS offers an earn-while-you-learn model that allows apprentices to receive full-time salaries and benefits from their first day of employment. Unlike traditional, for-credit education pathways, the program does not require a four-year degree. Instead, apprentices develop industry-specific competencies through a combination of classroom instruction, technical training and supervised production experience.

“You cannot simply hire a skilled welder and expect them to build rocket propellant tanks from exotic alloys or take a CNC machinist and have them produce flight hardware with the precision required for vacuum and cryogenic environments,” said Nick Curry, Blue Origin’s Early Career Director. “We’re creating something entirely new because the traditional pathways don’t prepare people for what we need.”

The curriculum includes precision measurement, advanced computer numerical control (CNC) programming, quality systems and specialized materials used in space manufacturing. Apprentices apply their training while working on production hardware at Blue Origin facilities.

The program uses a competency-based approach, allowing participants to advance by demonstrating their mastery of technical skills. Upon successful completion, apprentices earn nationally recognized journey worker certifications and gain pathways for continued employment and career advancement with Blue Origin.

“For Drake State, the partnership builds on the College’s work with industry to align technical education with changing workforce requirements,” said Dr. Patricia Sims. “It also demonstrates how community colleges can respond to specialized industry needs while making career opportunities accessible to residents seeking alternatives to a traditional four-year degree.”

ATLAS was developed in partnership with Apprenti, a national apprenticeship intermediary, and establishes registered apprenticeship standards for space manufacturing occupations. These standards are intended to provide a foundation that other employers can use to develop similar training programs.

Blue Origin plans to expand ATLAS to Florida in early 2027, followed by Washington and other manufacturing locations. The company aims to produce more than 200 journey-level technicians annually through the program by 2030.

As Huntsville’s aerospace and defense industries continue to expand, partnerships between employers and educational institutions will play an important role in preparing skilled workers for emerging technical occupations and connecting regional economic development with opportunities for our community.