Governor Katie Hobbs Announces Statewide Effort to Secure United States Space Academy for Arizona

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A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Arizona Governor’s Office. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Governor Katie Hobbs Announces Statewide Effort to Secure United States Space Academy for Arizona

News Release

October 9, 2026

Steering Committee of Public, Private Sector Leaders to Develop Arizona’s Application

Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the creation of the Arizona U.S. Space Academy Steering Committee to lead the state’s efforts to secure the United States Space Academy.

“Arizona is bringing together the state’s pre-eminent leaders on space science and exploration, representing our world-class universities, industry partners, local communities and the Arizona Space Commission to build a strong proposal for NASA,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Together, we are going to secure the US Space Academy for our state and continue Arizona’s dominance in cutting-edge advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and science and engineering.”

The United States Space Academy is a proposed American service academy for space-related operations. It was announced in an Executive Order by President Trump on August 28, 2026 to act as a training academy for NASA. The Steering Committee will work across public and private sectors to advise Arizona’s proposal to host the Academy and highlight the state’s unique position as a leader in the aerospace and defense industries, cutting-edge science and research and high-tech advanced manufacturing economy.

Arizona has what it takes:

World-class space science and research

Deep experience supporting NASA missions

A leading aerospace and defense industry

Universities and community colleges training the next generation

The land to build for the future

The Steering Committee members include:

Governor Katie Hobbs

Ambassador Barbara Barrett, former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, comprising the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force

Laurie Leshin, Arizona State University, University Professor for Space Futures. Former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Pete Worden, Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Chairman and Breakthrough Initiatives, Executive Director. Retired Brigadier General of the US Air Force and former Director of Development and Transformation of the Air Force Space Command.

Dr. Erika Hamden, University of Arizona, Director of the Space Institute and Associate Professor of Astrophysics

Dr. David Trilling, Northern Arizona University, Chair of the Department of Astronomy & Planetary Science and Professor of Astronomy & Planetary Science

Dr. Sian Proctor, first female commercial spaceship pilot astronaut

Brett Mecum, Arizona Space Commission, Chair

Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority, President and CEO

Jim Cantrell, Phantom Space, CEO and Co-Founder

Mayor Douglas Nicholls, Yuma, Arizona

Mayor Clea McCaa, Sierra Vista, Arizona

Steve Zylstra, Arizona Technology Council, President and CEO

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Release text attributed to Arizona Governor’s Office. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.