Hampton city officials met with NASA Langley representatives in December to discuss partnership opportunities for the future and to build a better collaborative environment that benefits both NASA Langley and the surrounding communities.

During the meeting, each described and educated the other on current projects, challenges, and unique assets that both NASA and Hampton provide. For example, many citizens are not aware that NASA Langley is home to one of the nation's most advanced flight simulators, or conversely, that Hampton is also home to one of only a handful of advanced proton beam cancer treatment facilities.

Officials were also briefed on NASA Langley's education and workforce development and innovative partnership program, public events, and environmental protection partnership with the Virginia Air and Space Center.

Jimmy Eason, director of Hampton's Department of Economic Development, presented an overview of proposed collaborative goals with NASA Langley. These goals included collaboration in the areas of aerospace, modeling and simulation, healthcare, medical devices, homeland security, and communications.

Eason also discussed several proposed projects to include an addition to the National Institute of Aerospace, which is already a highly successful university collaborative specializing in advanced aerospace education and located in Hampton's Magruder Boulevard high-tech corridor.

Hampton and NASA hope to partner on a number of projects including more focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, which is vital to our nation's future competitiveness in the world economy. NASA also continues to offer exciting opportunities to the community through after school programs, professional development, and its lecture series.

In addition, NASA LaRC employees have partnered with Hampton City Schools to help create a workforce of scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technologists that will sustain and grow Hampton's local and regional economy. Of these are collaborations on the new PreK-8 schools; the Governors Academy for Innovation, Technology, and Engineering (GAITE); Project Lead The Way; Modeling and Simulation; Robotics; K-5 Engineering; and other programs. Hampton City Schools and NASA LaRC also work on regional career pathways such as SpaceTEC at TNCC which require knowledge and skills needed for high-tech careers that are growing faster than the state average. These efforts provide a workforce pipeline while increasing student interest where students see local relevance to their school work.

The relationship between Hampton and NASA Langley continues to flourish and strengthen and both entities are committed to this valuable relationship.

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