Samya Rose Stumo National Air Grant Fellowship
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) welcomes your interest in the Samya Rose Stumo National Air Grant Fellowship (NAGF). The program offers an opportunity for graduate students in aerospace fields to gain experience in how aviation legislation and policy are developed. The Fellowship is named the Samya Rose Stumo National Air Grant Fellowship Program to commemorate and recognize the lives lost onboard the Lion Air Flight 610 (Oct. 29, 2018) and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (Mar. 10, 2019) airplane crashes.
The application period for the 2025 fellowship cohort is now CLOSED.
By focusing on improving operations, safety and repair within aviation, the fellowship equips participants with the tools and experiences needed to drive meaningful change. The Samya Rose Stumo National Air Grant Fellowship is an extraordinary opportunity for those dedicated to making a lasting impact on aviation. I am confident it will continue to shape future leaders, who are well prepared to meet the complex demands of our evolving aviation world.
- Gregory Pray, Director, Policy and Performance, AJI-3
Eligibility
Each Fellow will spend a year with a Congressional office that has jurisdiction over the FAA, or within an office in the executive branch of government. A fellow may serve as an expert liaison and researcher for a Congressional committee or may participate in FAA program activities to further develop their knowledge and skills.
The program is designed to offer people with technical aerospace education a hands-on experience at navigating public policy issues related to their field of expertise. FAA seeks participants in the fields of study that include:
- Aerospace engineering
- Aerospace physiology
- Aeronautical engineering
- Airworthiness engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Human factors
- Software engineering
- Systems engineering
To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, have an undergraduate degree and be pursuing an M.A. or PhD degree in a related field as listed or be within a year of completion of the post-graduate degree. You must also meet position-specific qualifications.
The annual application schedule takes place every winter. For eligibility and application instructions, visit our How to Apply section.
The National Air Grant Fellowship program has taken my personal and professional development to new heights. Not only have I been exposed to a variety of different topics regarding aviation policy, but I have also grown as a professional by working in an environment that requires my best every day.
- Amber Willitt, NAGF 2024 Class
During my time as a Fellow, I not only had the chance to take the lead on projects, but to also participate in an important interagency collaborative effort and to travel to important meetings with US government agencies and our international and industry partners. The fellowship was the perfect way to explore opportunities within the agency and to seamlessly transition into a permanent position at the FAA
- Kenisha Ford, NAGF 2023 Class
How to Apply
The application period for the 2025 National Air Grant Fellowship Cohort is now closed. Details about the 2026 application process will be posted at a later date on this website.
Candidates interested in applying for 2026 will require the following documentation:
- Résumé
- Statement by the applicant describing areas of interest in aviation policy and how the Fellowship experience will be important to individual career goals.
- Letter of nomination from applicant's academic advisor, or other appropriate academic faculty, stating the applicant's suitability for such Capitol Hill experience.
- Second letter of reference from another appropriate official, which can be another academic faculty member.
- Writing sample – a brief issue paper or memo by the applicant on any subject demonstrating the applicant's ability to communicate well.
- Transcript(s)
There is no better way to learn than by doing, and the Samya Rose Stumo National Air Grant Fellowship Program is a unique chance for those with a technical background to do aviation legislation.
- Geoffrey Ding, NAGF 2024 Class
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