In New Orleans East on an expansive 829-acre sprawl – 43 of those acres dedicated to a singular aerospace manufacturing operation – NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility has a long, proud and somewhat perplexing history of simultaneously changing the world while remaining under the radar on a local level.
Quite literally the first steps that led to man’s first steps on the moon took place at Michoud, affectionately known as “America’s Rocket Factory.” Beyond NASA, Michoud is also home to 10 other tenants, including aerospace manufacturing goliaths like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Approximately 3,500 individuals are employed at this regional economic hub that is responsible for $600 million in economic impact annually.
“NASA Michoud is one of the shining stars here in the region,” said Josh Tatum, Vice President of Retention and Growth at GNO Inc. “Ever since the Apollo mission, every rocket has come through New Orleans – that’s where the rocket has to start. So, you’re talking about decades worth of expertise, infrastructure, and the countless hours of hard work that went into every space mission all coming from the Michoud facility.
“So, yes, this is a huge economic driver in our area, but it’s also part of our nation’s history and a reflection of what the people of this region are capable of.”
And yet, compared to well-known aerospace efforts conducted in Houston and Florida, Michoud’s role in NASA’s overall legacy hasn’t always received the expected fanfare one might expect. One area that seems to be of concern for the industry over the past years is the lack of awareness of all the high-wage, high-demand careers that are offered at NASA Michoud. The need to increase visibility, partnerships, and collaboration is critical to ensure there is a generational workforce pipeline used to staff highly skilled, well-paying technical careers at the storied aerospace manufacturing facility.
Recognizing the issue, in Sept. 2022, the National Space Council and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris launched an initiative to raise the profile of aerospace facilities (like Michoud) while promoting STEM education in younger generations. Months later, leaders from the public and private sector unveiled a multi-layered workforce development program tailored specifically for Michoud, the crux being the announcement of Greater New Orleans Regional Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, or GNO RAAMP for short.
At its core GNO RAAMP is a “sectorial partnership,” essentially a coalition of industry leaders in the same field from a shared labor region teaming with educational and economic development organizations that find solutions for workforce issues and bolster job growth both in the present day and for years to come.
“One of the biggest puzzle pieces in this operation – or any operation, really – is the workforce,” Tatum said. “It’s vital to ensure we have the dedicated, structural system that supports the continued operations at NASA Michoud and all of its tenants.”
Expose > Train > Sustain
In order to accomplish that vital objective, GNO RAAMP’s initial plan was strategically constructed into three interconnected philosophical and strategic pillars: Expose, Train, and Sustain.
By ‘Expose’ GNO RAAMP aims to not only open the eyes of local students when it comes to careers in aerospace manufacturing, but to also showcase the realistic and achievable roadmaps others have traversed to land those jobs. Adopting a “You Can Be What You Can See” mindset, GNO RAAMP has connected with schools throughout the local 10 parishes that comprise the Greater New Orleans area to get bright and promising students who have shown an interest in STEM disciplines to Michoud so they can witness day-to-day operations at the facility first-hand.
Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Economic Mobility & STEM at GNO, Inc. is leading these exposure efforts through customized programming that is geared to close the workforce equity gaps within STEM careers, especially for women and communities of color.
“In order to develop strong workforce pipelines, we have to start as young as possible to expose individuals to career opportunities that exist right here in their backyard”, said Barnes. “If we can show the region’s youth that they can change the world and be a part of history right here at NASA Michoud, we will be able to see individuals access economic mobility opportunities that provide generational wealth creation for our communities. It is a game changer when we develop programs that allows underserved individuals see what they can be.”
Within the first year of GNO RAAMP, Barnes have developed programs that are building the exposure opportunities that are changing lives. “Women In the STEM Economy” (WISE) and “Sons of STEM” are two programs that are brining student groups out to Michoud to spark the minds of the next generation.
“NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility has been a staple in the New Orleans community for over six decades and has built NASA space flight hardware for all human space flight missions, from Apollo to the Space Shuttle, and now Artemis,” said Hansel Gill, Michoud’s Acting Director. “Throughout the years and across all levels of production, the dedicated team members at Michoud have been deeply woven into the fabric of our mission. Our workforce is extremely proficient and highly skilled, and many have given Michoud and the agency some of the best years of their lives. Since the inception of the Regional Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Partnership initial planning meeting, Michoud has recognized the value of these partnerships and collaboration efforts.”
Gill said working with industry stakeholders like GNO Inc. has allowed Michoud to focus on mission requirements, while GNO Inc. and RAAMP partners assist with workforce development, which ensures the pipeline of the facility’s generational workforce remains enduring and strong.
When it comes GNO RAAMP’s “Train” pillar, decision-makers within the sectorial partnership continue to build upon an already-established infrastructure of educational and mentorship programs structured to give the next generation of Michoud workers the necessary skills to thrive in a one-of-a-kind workplace.
For years, NASA Michoud and its affiliated manufacturers have awarded internships to higher-education students from Historically Black Colleges & Universities majoring in STEM and innovation disciplines, as well as scholars from Nunez Community College enrolled in technical curriculum intentionally crafted to fit the needs of NASA and the tenants at Michoud.
While beneficial for the students, the tasks Michoud officials have been able to assign in previous years were severely limited because these mentor programs were tagged as “internships.” GNO RAAMP officials are in the process of going through the procedural measures necessary this past year to reclassify internships at Michoud under the aerospace manufacturing program as apprenticeships. On paper, the difference between an “internship” and “apprenticeship” seems like a matter of semantics. But in practice, the new designation allows students to get more hands-on, real-world experience and be tasked with more complex and technical assignments.
Finally, the third pillar: Sustain.
As these programs mature and become more popular with college and university students at various institutions throughout the Gulf South, the hope is that influx of STEM-trained talent will provide Michoud with a deep enough workforce to not only sustain current production standards but also promote new manufacturing developments.
“At the center of this initiative are the employers,” Tatum said. “They’re telling us what they need to remain successful. From there, our mission is to craft programmatic efforts with regional partners to support aerospace and advanced manufacturing employers. If done right, we hope to see continued growth – developing new footprints, new investments, and new jobs from this sector partnership.”
