Space Force Association Launches National Effort to Boost Public Awareness

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — In an effort to increase public awareness of the U.S. Space Force, the Colorado Springs-based Space Force Association has begun launching chapters across the country. This initiative aims to host events and educate school children, lawmakers, and the general public about the youngest branch of the U.S. military and its mission, according to Retired Col. Bill Woolf, the association’s CEO.

The Space Force Association advocates for the Space Force, which has reported that less than 10% of Americans are aware of its existence. Last year, during an event, Katharine Kelley, the Space Force’s deputy chief of space operations for human capital, acknowledged that less than 8% of the public recognizes the importance of the organization, as stated by Air and Space Forces Magazine.

Woolf actively engages students by demonstrating how satellites enhance modern technology. He poses questions, such as, “Did you check traffic? Did you check weather?” to illustrate how frequently they interact with space-related technologies every day without realizing it. “You and I interact with space over 50 times a day,” he noted.

The Space Force currently operates GPS and weather satellites that are crucial for navigation and forecasting, reinforcing the relevance of its work in daily life. To raise awareness, the association is working towards establishing a chapter in every U.S. state, currently managing 26 chapters.

Nearly six years since its establishment, the Space Force lacks a significant number of veterans to educate the public. However, a federal law enacted last year now allows recognition of Air Force veterans who participated in space missions as legacy guardians. Woolf believes this step will help cultivate informed, experienced advocates for space awareness.

“When I see someone walking down the street with a Space Force T-shirt around the country, that’s what success looks like,” said Woolf.

Recently, the Space Force Association signed a two-year agreement with the Space Foundation to collaborate on workforce development and education initiatives, tackling shared challenges faced by both organizations.

Rich Cooper, a spokesman for the Space Foundation, revealed that 90% of space-focused companies reported looking for workers, with 75% struggling to find qualified candidates. Woolf emphasized the crucial need for a pipeline to attract young individuals to space careers, leading to the establishment of a Space Professional Society aimed at college students.

The Space Foundation is also taking steps to generate interest in space-related careers, developing curricula for educators and organizing events featuring astronauts. Retired NASA astronaut Dominic Antonelli recently visited classrooms in Colorado Springs to inspire students to pursue careers in space.

Woolf concluded, stating, “The entire space economy hinges on the support from the Space Force,” highlighting its role in ensuring freedom of action in space amidst growing private-sector investment.