Johns Hopkins APL, SAIS Showcase Specialized Facilities for Space Force Program

A group of U.S. Space Force faculty and the incoming inaugural cohort of Schriever and West Space Scholars toured the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) on July 28 as a part of the Space Force’s Professional Military Education (PME) program, an ongoing partnership between the Space Force and Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Last year, the Space Force tapped the JHU School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) to implement the USSF PME program, which is intended to promote the professional development of top Space Force leadership candidates, as well as joint force, interagency and international partners.

APL is collaborating with SAIS to offer classified research opportunities to the Space Force in national security space, technology and policy. APL provides the candidates with state-of-the-art facilities for collaboration on world-class research and development projects, as well as access to specialized and highly classified facilities for work related to their national security missions.

“It was a privilege to welcome the inaugural class of Guardians, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines to the Space Force’s developmental education program through [SAIS],” Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman posted about the program in July. “Educating leaders through this model will prove critical in forging a purpose-built Space Force.”

This program allows Space Force Guardians and other students to graduate with a Master of International Public Policy degree while studying at the SAIS campus in Washington, D.C. Program candidates are able to undertake classified research opportunities at APL and take advantage of space-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) electives from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, allowing them to choose the coursework most relevant for their desired career objectives and learning outcomes.

The APL tour aimed to inform candidates about APL and the Whiting School and to present collaborative research opportunities. Patrick Binning, the National Security Space mission area executive at APL, briefed the candidates during the tour. He explained the Laboratory’s work and partnership with the Space Force. Binning also stated that additional events were planned to strengthen the partnership between the Space Force and APL.

“You are all members now of the JHU family,” Binning told the candidates. “Here at APL, our purpose is to provide critical contributions to critical challenges. Through this partnership, you will have the instruments of American innovation at your fingertips in your role as leaders in your respective branches.”