As Space Industry Expands, Montgomery College Builds Maryland’s Next-Generation Workforce

As the commercial space industry experiences unprecedented growth, Montgomery College’s Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology (PIC MC) is expanding workforce partnerships that connect students with one of the world's leading satellite communications companies while preparing the next generation of engineers, technicians and advanced manufacturing professionals.

The effort is taking shape in Germantown, where Hughes Network Systems—headquartered adjacent to Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus since 1987—and its parent company, EchoStar, continue to help shape the future of satellite communications.

Recent national attention surrounding SpaceX’s initial public offering has highlighted the rapid growth of the commercial space industry, but the larger story is the demand for talent. In 2025, a record 4,434 satellites were launched into orbit, a 65% increase over the previous year. More than 14,000 satellites are now operational worldwide, and the global satellite manufacturing market is projected to reach $57 billion by 2030.

That growth is creating increasing demand for professionals in advanced manufacturing, materials engineering, satellite communications, power systems, supply chain management and related technical fields. Through education, industry partnerships and experiential learning, Montgomery College is helping ensure Maryland has the skilled workforce needed to support one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology sectors.

“Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation,” said Tommy Luginbill, executive director of the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College. “It happens when students, entrepreneurs, researchers and established companies work side by side. That’s exactly what we're building at PIC MC. Whether it’s introducing a startup to an industry partner or giving students hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing, we're helping create the workforce and partnerships that will drive Maryland's innovation economy for years to come.”

Maryland is already experiencing that momentum. Earlier this year, Intuitive Machines announced a 69,000-square-foot expansion in Anne Arundel County that will nearly double its local workforce while increasing production of robotics, spacecraft mechanisms and hardware supporting NASA's Artemis program.

Hughes continues to strengthen its presence in Germantown as well. In 2025, the company opened its EXM manufacturing facility on Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus as part of PIC MC—the first manufacturing facility of its kind located on a community college campus in the United States. The facility serves as both an active manufacturing operation and a collaborative learning environment where students gain hands-on experience while working alongside industry professionals.

EchoStar has also expanded its role in the satellite communications marketplace. In September 2025, the company announced a nearly $17 billion agreement with SpaceX involving AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses while establishing a long-term commercial partnership focused on next-generation direct-to-cell satellite connectivity. The agreement further reinforced Maryland’s connection to one of the fastest-growing segments of the global space economy.

Over the past two years, PIC MC has worked alongside Hughes and EchoStar to strengthen connections across the region’s innovation ecosystem. Those efforts include introducing emerging technology companies to established industry partners, supporting startup growth and creating new opportunities for Montgomery College students through internships, applied learning and workforce development.

One example is Maryland-based N5 Sensors, which connected with EchoStar through relationships fostered by PIC MC. That introduction ultimately led to a business partnership between the two organizations.

“While those collaborations may not generate the same headlines as rocket launches or billion-dollar investments, they create the foundation for long-term economic growth. Conversations become partnerships, partnerships become contracts and those contracts create jobs, strengthen local companies and open new career opportunities for Maryland students,” Luginbill added. “As investment in commercial space technologies continues to accelerate, Montgomery College and PIC MC remain focused on ensuring the region’s workforce is prepared to meet industry demand by connecting education with employers, supporting entrepreneurship and creating pathways into one of the nation's most dynamic industries.”

The Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College, or PIC MC, is a hub of education, business and entrepreneurship, where industry partners co-locate and actively interact with faculty and students to achieve both educational and economic success.