Workforce & Education Division Partnerships
Partnerships are foundational to the FAA Workforce & Education Division’s program. 
The FAA, through these partnerships, works with nationally recognized aviation and aerospace organizations to build early awareness, support skill development, and provide career immersion opportunities aligned with the FAA’s safety mission. These partnerships are long-standing, reflecting years of collaboration, shared goals, and mutual trust across the aviation ecosystem. Together, they help the FAA reach more than 2.5 million students nationwide each year who are the potential future pipeline of aviation professionals helping keep the skies safe for the traveling public.
As the aviation and aerospace industry continues to evolve — driven by new technologies, changing workforce needs, and increasing demand for skilled professionals — these partnerships play a critical role in bringing awareness and preparing the next generation of the aviation workforce. By connecting students to real-world experiences and emerging career pathways, they help ensure the future aviation workforce is informed, prepared, and aligned with industry and safety priorities.
The FAA’s workforce-based partnerships reflect trusted, mission-aligned organizations with deep industry expertise and national reach. Together, these collaborations:
- Reinforce the FAA’s workforce development efforts and safety mission
- Provide authentic, hands-on skills development
- Expand access to aviation and aerospace careers
- Create clear connections between education, training, and future employment
- Extend the FAA’s national outreach footprint through cost-effective collaboration, serving as a force multiplier that helps maximize impact while responsibly stewarding taxpayer resources
By working alongside partners across the aviation ecosystem, the FAA ensures students not only learn about aviation — but can clearly see how to prepare for, enter, and succeed in aviation and aerospace careers today and in the future.
Career Pathways Resources from Our Partners
The FAA’s Workforce & Education Division partners support students at different stages of exploration and preparation across the aviation and aerospace workforce.
Partners strengthening education pipelines and access to aviation careers:
- Jamail Larkins’ DreamLaunch Tour
Inspires students nationwide through aviation storytelling, career exposure, and motivational engagement.
- National Association of State Aviation Officials
Enhances aviation education and outreach through collaboration with state aviation agencies and education partners. Also serves as a bridge between federal, state, and local governments and industry.
- Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals
Expands access to aerospace careers through classroom activities, mentoring, professional development, and advocacy.
- Women in Aviation International
Encourages and advances women across aviation career fields through outreach, education, and mentorship.
Partners supporting careers such as air traffic controllers, advanced air mobility, drone operators, pilots, flight instructors, and general aviation professionals:
- Academy of Model Aeronautics
Introduces foundational concepts in aerodynamics, UAS awareness, training and testing, flight, and safety through model aviation and STEM-based learning.
- Civil Air Patrol
Builds aerospace literacy, leadership, and career awareness through nationwide aerospace education and youth programming.
- Dream Soar
Highlights global aviation pathways and breaks barriers through inspirational outreach and student engagement.
- Experimental Aircraft Association
Connects students to aviation through immersive programs such as Aeroeducate activities, Young Eagles Introductory flights, AirVenture Oshkosh and KidVenture, offering exposure to pilots, builders, and aviation professionals.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Smart Skies, a collaboration between NASA and the FAA, engages students in applied math and science using aviation- and space-based scenarios tied to real-world problem solving.
- Youth Aviation Adventure
Provides hands-on aviation experiences using real aircraft to introduce students to flight, aviation safety, and career opportunities using the Scouting merit badge model.
Partners connecting students to aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs), technicians, and skilled workforce pathways:
Connects education and industry through hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials aligned with aviation and advanced manufacturing careers.
Partners supporting careers such as aerospace engineers, systems engineers, space operations professionals, and researchers:
- Academy of Model Aeronautics
The UAS4STEM competition allows student teams to design, build, program, and fly their own drones in a mission-driven challenge that develops creativity, coding, and engineering skills.
- America Rocketry Challenge
The world’s largest student rocket competition, providing hands-on aerospace engineering and systems design experience.
- Challenger Center for Space Science Education
Offers immersive, mission-based STEM learning environments that simulate real aerospace and space operations.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Dream With Us: High School Engineering Challenge, a collaboration between NASA and the FAA, allows students to tackle real-world engineering challenges and design innovations that will shape the future of aviation.
- National Air and Space Museum
Connects students to the history, science, and future of aviation and space through nationally recognized educational resources.