Trump Signs Executive Order to Establish First-Ever US Space Academy
New academy to train future space engineers, service members and civilian operators for Moon, Mars and beyond missions
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of establishing the country’s first United States Space Academy, aimed at training the next generation of space professionals, engineers, scientists and service members.
Trump signed the order on August 28, 2026, during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The proposed academy will be led by NASA and is intended to combine advanced technical education with leadership development, discipline and public service.
Trump said the rapid growth of the US Space Force and the commercial space industry, along with the country’s expanding ambitions for the Moon and beyond, has created a need to train a new generation of skilled personnel.
The academy is expected to be modeled in part on established US service academies such as West Point and the Air Force Academy, while preparing graduates for careers across the military, civilian and commercial space sectors.
Jared Isaacman to Lead Presidential Commission
Under the executive order, a Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy has been established. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will chair the commission, while NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will serve as executive director.
The commission has been given 120 days to submit recommendations to the President covering the academy’s governance structure, curriculum, admission requirements, graduate service obligations and permanent location. It will also examine pilot programmes, partnerships, legislative requirements and an implementation strategy.
The proposed institution is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to strengthen US leadership in space. The academy is expected to help develop the workforce needed for future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, as well as the growing commercial and national-security space sectors.
The final structure, location and operational framework of the US Space Academy will depend on the commission’s recommendations and any required legislative action.
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