Space Dynamics Lab Recognizes 75 Graduating Student Employees, Highlights Workforce Pipeline

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory recognized 75 student employees expected to graduate this year during a ceremony for its 155-member student workforce.

“SDL’s student workforce contributes significantly to engineering, science, and related disciplines to support national security and science missions, while developing professional skills for the defense and aerospace sectors,” said Christa Jackson, SDL’s director of human resources. “Graduating students leave SDL with the confidence of having applied work experience on operational programs and mission-focused teams.”

Sponsored by the US Space Force, SDL is one of 16 Department of War University Affiliated Research Centers and provides engineering, research, and development support to Government partners, including the DOW and NASA. The Laboratory integrates students into active programs spanning small satellite development, sensor systems, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR).

Student employees typically work part time during the academic year and are embedded in multidisciplinary teams, contributing to design, testing, and analysis efforts alongside full-time staff.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to electronic design, assembly, and testing while working at SDL. I assisted in the revision of an interface control document and developed a grounding diagram for NEO Surveyor, a NASA space telescope designed to detect Near-Earth Objects,” said Amaya Francom, a student employee graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. “The work environment emphasized collaboration and program execution, and the mentorship and guidance from my supervisor supported my professional development.”

Founded in 1959, SDL conducts work across multiple domains, including space, land, maritime, air, and cyberspace. Student employees work alongside approximately 1,400 engineers, scientists, and business professionals, gaining experience aligned with defense and aerospace program requirements and transitioning into full-time roles across Government and industry.

Six graduating student employees are expected to receive master’s degrees, and 67 are expected to earn bachelor’s degrees from Utah State University’s College of Engineering, John M. Huntsman School of Business, and the College of Arts & Sciences. Additional SDL student employees are expected to receive one master’s degree and seven bachelor’s degrees from Brigham Young University–Idaho, California Polytechnic State University, and The University of Arizona.

SDL’s Class of 2026 cohort are expected to receive degrees in the following disciplines: mechanical engineering (15), computer science (10), electrical engineering (8), computer engineering (5), data analytics (3), information systems (4), physics (3), accounting (2), engineering (2), marketing (2), optical sciences (2), technical communication and rhetoric (2), English (1), management (1), public health (1), space systems engineering (1), and technology systems (1).

Headquartered at Utah State University’s Innovation Campus in North Logan, UT, SDL is an independent nonprofit corporation owned by USU that solves technical challenges faced by the military, science community, and industry and supports NASA’s vision to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. SDL has field offices in Albuquerque, NM; Chantilly, VA; Huntsville, AL; Ogden, UT; and Stafford, VA.