ORANGE BEACH — Columbia Southern University (CSU) announced that its new space operations program and certificate will officially launch in December, with classes beginning in January.

CSU started with only three colleges – College of Arts and Sciences, College of Safety and Emergency Services and College of Business and Technology. In the past couple of years, it has added the College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences and now the new College of Space, Intelligence and Military Operations.

Mike Perry, retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt., dean for College of Space, Intelligence and Military Operations and assistant provost at CSU, hosted a presentation on the new program, where he and CSU leaders focused on how it will impact the space workforce and why individuals should consider enrolling in the program.

With Huntsville becoming headquarters for the U.S. Space Command, Perry said Alabama is positioned to be a force in space operations for the nation, and "maybe even the globe."

During the Q&A portion of the event, one audience member asked how this program would impact the Gulf Coast directly.

All speakers at the event seemed to agree on how the work in Huntsville required an immense staff. Having a program in-state, based in the Gulf Coast, will prepare and certify more people to work in that type of field. Also, manufacturing industries in the area can directly benefit space operations.

From what started when humans first looked to the sky, interest and research in space has skyrocketed in recent years.

"Over the past two decades, we have done more in space operations and explorations than we ever have in the entire history of space," Perry said.

He compared space to AI by saying the rapid growth was evidently coming, so getting in on the ground floor to build a workforce was an opportunity CSU was going to take.

Academic Program Director, Wendy Thi, spoke at the event on how many things are impacted by space operations as it has grown from something we watched to something we depend on. Bank transactions, GPS functions, weather warnings, airport logistics and even some BBQ grills, all require satellites in space.

"That space domain is growing faster than talent can keep up with it and it requires a workforce that understands space as a strategic and operational landscape," she said. "We have to create space literate professionals."

Diena Mosely, Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) and faculty with military sciences, spoke at the event on her experience in the service that brought her face to face with space operations. She also spoke on recent advances in space such as the Falcon 9 booster that was processed to be reused, saving parts and funds.

She said she felt "like a kid in a candy store" with the new College of Space, Intelligence and Military Operations.

Daniel Singleton, instructor for Space Systems Engineering and Operations, spoke on the potential for economic growth in this area related to space operations. He agreed with his colleagues on the increasing presence of space in everyday lives and the increasing frequency of launching new satellites and other spacecraft.

Just this year there have been 248 orbital launches, Singleton said 10-15 years ago there were likely only 30-40 orbital launches.

By 2035, he said there are projections for the U.S. space economy to become a $2 trillion market, a 185% increase in business.

"If you're expecting an 185% increase and you're not in the business, you want to get in the business. It's a really tremendous opportunity, especially here in our state," he said. "... What does that mean? It means we've got to have trained people who can carry out the space operations mission."