DALLAS, Texas and COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — Jan. 11, 2021 — America’s Future Series, a national speaker series focused on maintaining American competitiveness is proud to announce the 3rd episode of the “Space Talks with Z” podcast. The episode set to air on Jan 7th, features former NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Assistant Director Steven G. Schmidt.

Zaheer Ali, host of “Space Talks with Z,” sits down with Schmidt, now the Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In addition to his years with NASA, Schmidt was employed at the U.S Air Force Test Center where he worked on high profile projects such as the A-10, B-1, and F-16. In the podcast, Schmidt illuminates the challenges the U.S. will face in its next steps into space and the reforms needed to overcome them.

Schmidt believes that, “We went to the moon back in the 60s/early 70s and the people who were around and the expertise that we used to do that are gone. So, we’ve, in a way, forgotten a lot of the stuff and how to do it.”

He proposes that to fix these problems “everything starts at education,” but with more extensive reforms needed.
● Schmidt states that “our education system still runs on the industrial factory model” and proposes a more diverse education, expanding upon the example of an academy that fused engineering and history classes.
● Another solution is transitioning from a goal-based model of space exploration where the only objective is to travel to a planet such as Mars, to a model where advancement is pursued for its own sake.

In the podcast Schmidt lays forth his solutions to have America to resume its place as human space exploration leader. From early childhood education to encouraging skilled trade education as well as promoting private space sector growth, Schmidt speaks from experience and the heart as lays out his vision for America’s future path to space.

The podcast is available now on America’s Future Series’ YouTube Channel

America’s Future Series would like to thank sponsors Raytheon Technologies and Bell Flight for making this valuable podcast possible.

About America's Future Series
America’s Future Series (“AFS”), based in Dallas, Texas, is a national speaker’s series that has brought together national leaders to collaborate and focus on the critical issues facing America since 2010. It aims to foster civil and creative dialogue around important issues impacting U.S. global competitiveness and is open to participants worldwide via interactive live and virtual events. Over 250 high-level speakers such as Sir Richard Branson, Ross Perot, T. Boone Pickens, Secretary Hondo Geurts, and General Mike Murray have all participated in and spoken at AFS events. AFS also works to raise money and awareness for worthy causes — since 2010, AFS has raised more than $6 million in donations and event proceeds. For further information on America’s Future Series, visit www.americas-fs.org/

About “Space Talks with Z”
“Space Talks with Z,” hosted by Zaheer Ali, provides a platform for experts in the space industry to share their ideas and views to solve critical issues in our nation, and present strategies to advance our nation in the final and infinite frontier, and beyond. Zaheer Ali is an aerospace and national security leader and executive with over 20 years’ experience working with NASA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense. His background is as a physicist and program manager of applied research and development.

About Steven G. Schmidt
Steven G. Schmidt is the former assistant director for Strategic Implementation at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. He is a graduate of both California State University Fresno and the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Prior to working for NASA, he was employed at the United State’s Air Force’s Test Center and Rockwell International Corporation. While at NASA, he served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Task Board. He became the assistant direct for the Armstrong Flight Research Center in 2013 before retiring in 2018. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

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