What's Happening?
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman recently led a Q&A session at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, focusing on a new workforce directive titled 'Workforce Directive: Restoring NASA’s Core Competencies.' This initiative aims to address NASA's
growing reliance on external vendors for core functions such as engineering and operations, which has led to increased overhead costs and a reduction in internal capabilities. The directive outlines actions to reclaim NASA's technical autonomy, including workforce assessments to identify outsourced functions, developing transition strategies to convert contractor roles to civil service, and enhancing talent pipelines through collaboration with industry partners. The directive also emphasizes the need for autonomous operations by incorporating right-to-repair provisions in future contracts.
Why It's Important?
The directive is significant as it addresses the challenges NASA faces due to its dependence on external vendors, which compromises mission success and increases costs. By restoring its core competencies, NASA aims to strengthen its internal capabilities, reduce reliance on external partners, and ensure the success of future missions, including a return to the Moon. This initiative is crucial for maintaining NASA's leadership in space exploration and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. The focus on internal workforce development is expected to attract new talent and expertise, reinforcing NASA's position in the space industry.
What's Next?
NASA plans to implement the directive by conducting workforce assessments and developing transition strategies within 60 days. The agency will also expand internship opportunities and develop internal training initiatives to retain expertise. As NASA prepares for upcoming missions, the focus on internal workforce development will be critical in addressing existing gaps and ensuring the agency's readiness for future challenges. The initiative is expected to foster collaboration with industry partners and enhance NASA's technical autonomy, ultimately strengthening its capabilities in the evolving space exploration landscape.
