Renewable & Mining Technology

From aerospace engineers to FAA-certified airframe technicians, Tucson has the educational resources to supply all levels of aerospace workers to companies in the region. Throughout Southern Arizona, there are currently over 30,000 people employed in the aerospace industry.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

• The College of Engineering at The University of Arizona offers many outstanding engineering programs, awarding 608 bachelor’s degrees, 224 master’s degrees, and 137 doctoral degrees in 2021.
• The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) offers ABET-accredited undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering.
• AME research activities are concentrated in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, multi-body dynamics and control, heat transfer, solid mechanics and composite materials, space technology, biomedical engineering and reliability. Some of the emerging areas of concentration include micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS), nanotechnology and optomechanics.
• UA ranks in the top 10 of NASA grant recipients and is No. 1 in space science research. UA’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is instrumental in nearly 30 ongoing NASA space missions, including the Hubble, James Webb Space Telescope, OSIRIS-REx and Phoenix Mars missions. Arizona Center for Innovation, located at the UA Science and Technology Park, is a high-tech incubator that focuses on important developing areas including aerospace, advance composites, information technology and the life sciences.

PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (PCC)

• PCC’s dedicated Aviation Technology Center and recent Avionics Expansion provides FAA-approved Airframe and Powerplant Certification, Aviation Structural Repair and Avionics Technician Training. The college’s aviation technology degrees and certifications can be paired with training programs customized to employers’ requirements, and are nationally recognized for producing highly-skilled, industry-ready workers. PCC is well on its way to doubling student graduates annually to 250. The program has an 80 to 90 percent completion rate, with most of the students passing their certification exams. In 2019, Pima Community College received $15 million to expand its aviation technology program to double student enrollment.  In 2022, PCC received a $500,000 grant for its aviation training program.
• PCC’s Manufacturing Technology programs support workforce development and training for the aerospace and defense sector in a variety of ways.  Programs in Engineering, Machine Technology, Design and Prototyping, and Mechatronics support the sector in developing talent in design, prototyping, fabrication, automation, instrumentation and process control, and optics technology.  These programs have received national accreditation and have strong connections with national and regional employers and K-12 systems in order to build a strong talent-supply system for the aerospace and defense sector.
• Thanks in large part to advances in technology, workforce education and training needs are changing rapidly. The College is responding by developing six Centers of Excellence (CoE) focused on Applied Technology, Information Technology, Health Professions, Public Safety & Security, the Arts, and Hospitality.PCC is investing approximately $100M to build these state-of-the-art Centers of Excellence throughout Tucson that are focused on providing high-touch/high-tech training and best-in-class learning for in-demand jobs. The Centers for Excellence reflect the expectations, quality, and outcomes that regional employers need for a talented, diverse, and high-skilled workforce.The Center of Excellence in Applied Technology has cutting-edge equipment and an industry-aligned curriculum that provides learners with experiential learning opportunities. This Center will also have a Flexible Industry Training (FIT) Lab wholly dedicated to employer-specific training. Also, it is designed to meet the ever-changing needs and technological advances of our employer partners. To build a strong talent pipeline for our industry partners, PCC offers multiple program options including robust micro-pathways, Certificates, and Associates of Applied Science.

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is here to meet the growing educational needs and demands of the aviation and aerospace community. The Embry-Riddle campus – located on the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base – offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, as well as undergraduate FAA Part 65 A & P certification to military, veteran, and civilians. Academic programs are available using multiple learning modalities, including online, classroom, and virtual classroom instruction.

PIMA COUNTY AEROSPACE RESEARCH CAMPUS

The Pima County Aerospace Research Campus is being developed to address the increasing need for supply chain locations for the aerospace industry and other key sector industries as well as imports/exports with Mexico. The property is mostly flat, virgin desert located immediately south of the Tucson International Airport complex and Raytheon.

With over 500 total acres in planned lots ranging from 24 to 47 acres, users have the opportunity to consolidate and customize properties to meet their specific needs. This park is the initial portion of a larger planned industrial park that will encompass as much as 2,400 additional acres over time. Recent announcements of companies locating in the Park include American Battery Factory, Raytheon and World View Enterprises.