Tanya Gatlin, a professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, sits in the cockpit of a flight simulator in the World Indoor Airport Laboratories. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

A new collaboration among higher education, the private sector and the government soon could provide Colorado's aerospace industry with a completely homegrown and specialized workforce.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is combining aerospace science and aviation, industrial design, engineering, computer sciences and physics study into a multidisciplinary advanced manufacturing curriculum designed to train the next generation of Colorado aerospace workers.

And they're doing it by working hand in hand with several of the state's aerospace and aviation giants, such as Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Jeppeson Aviation.

"This is focused on the workforce. We're moving in to fill a niche that hasn't been filled yet," Metro State president Stephen Jordan said. "What does not exist in Colorado has been a bit of a hindrance in terms of getting advanced manufacturing companies to the state."

The program works in concert with President Barack Obama's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership initiatives, designed to strengthen ties among higher education, the private sector and the government to boost the country's ability to innovate and create jobs at home.

After meeting with White House officials, Jordan set out to create the new program, meeting with aerospace industry leaders and learning about their immediate workforce needs.

"We spent time talking with folks in advanced manufacturing and the aerospace section, asking, 'What do you need in hard skills and soft skills?' " Jordan said. "We then gave them a curriculum and said, 'This is what we heard you say. Did we get it right?' It's very much been a listening process with the private sector."

Although many feel college is the time for free thought and experimentation, Jordan said industry influence will not hinder creativity.

"You would be blown away on how much emphasis is on critical thinking, writing and teamwork," Jordan said. "Engineering schools produce engineers that are great engineers, but that's just one part of it they don't know how to communicate."

Originally posted here:

Metro partners with aerospace leaders to address workforce demands