Murray State University accepted into the U.S. Space Command’s Academic Engagement Enterprise

By MSU Public Relations | Aug 19, 2026

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University was recently accepted into the United States Space Command’s (USSPACECOM) Academic Engagement Enterprise (AEE).

The AEE is essentially a consortium of universities and professional military education institutions with interests in teaching and research related to the U.S. Space Command’s mission. The goal of the AEE is to foster relationships and collaboration between cutting-edge academic institutions and USSPACECOM.

USSPACECOM’s mission overlaps several academic programs at Murray State, including engineering, cybersecurity, earth and environmental sciences, AI/machine learning and computer science.

According to the AEE acceptance letter, USSPACECOM aspires to collaborate with universities on the following goals:

- Engage the future workforce
- Increase space applied research and innovation
- Expand space-focused analytic partnerships
- Enrich the strategic dialogue on space

In an email about Murray State’s acceptance to the program, Maj. Gen. Samuel C. Keener said, “Murray State is joining an elite group of universities and professional military education institutions we feel possess the right level of space, cyber, and research expertise.”

The consortium will provide a variety of opportunities for students and faculty, including webinars, an annual symposium, and student fellowships. Faculty can also request to have subject matter experts speak to their classes. Though USSPACECOM does not directly fund research, the organization will communicate research opportunities with the US Space Force to Murray State faculty and assist in creating project collaborations.

"Murray State faculty and students have worked with and in the defense and aerospace industry for over 30 years,” said Dr. Jamie Rogers, director of the Murray State School of Engineering. “Joining USSPACECOM's AEE is an exciting opportunity to continue developing our workforce for and conducting research in this critical area."

The effort is a collaboration between Murray State’s School of Engineering, the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, and the Cyber Education and Research Center.