A study of the impact of the growing international dimensions of technology on career development at a National Aerospace Laboratory

Abstract

It is pointed out that the United States leadership in the aerospace industry is being threatened by mounting global competition. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center must deal with complex issues regarding technology transfer with increasing frequency as foreign governments, venture partners, subcontractors, and suppliers force US firms to involve them in ways that require new and sophisticated technology in exchange for sharing development risk and providing a market for the product. Further career development for NASA Langley engineers being contemplated to maximize the US benefit of technology flow includes increased emphasis on technology assessment during participation in foreign travel and international conferences, enhancement of skills in foreign technology monitoring, and increased support for early career exposure to the broader industry/world view through formal training and domestic international assignments.<>