Empowering Black Excellence in Aerospace.
Jobs, Mentorship, and Community for Extraordinary Undergrads Seeking Aerospace Careers.
We’re on a mission to provide an effective pathway into successful aerospace careers and future aerospace industry leadership to talented, hardworking people who are currently on the outside, looking in.
As we succeed in that goal, we will drive meaningful change in the aerospace industry, helping our nation receive the massive benefits of a fully engaged workforce with an impressive breadth of perspectives and talents.
Our award-winning program provides extraordinary undergraduates with their first work experience in the aerospace industry, personalized mentorship, and a cohort of similarly driven and talented students and early career professionals pursuing aerospace careers. Our program has a proven track record of success developing human resources in historically undeserved Black communities, including Black aerospace engineers and other aerospace professionals.
Making your first job a great job.
Entering into the aerospace industry can seem nearly impossible — every job opening seems to require that you already have working experience somewhere else, and too much of the aerospace industry’s recruiting focuses on a small handful of schools. Patti Grace Smith Fellows earn meaningful, competitively-sourced summer internships at some of the nation’s leading aerospace institutions, including established companies, startups, and more. Working a ~12 week summer internship at these places, our Fellows hone their talents and sharpen their practical, on-the-job skills while contributing to an inspiring mission. And throughout the process, they are paid a living wage.
Providing mentorship from those who have blazed the trail.
Patti Grace Smith Fellows are exceptional students who have already demonstrated remarkable talent and achievement in their academic and research pursuits. These rising leaders enter the program with a strong foundation and a drive to contribute meaningfully to the future of aerospace. To accelerate their trajectory and amplify their impact, each Fellow is matched with two distinguished mentors: one a leader at the forefront of the industry, and the other a rising professional who brings recent, relevant insight. This dual-mentorship approach enhances the Fellow’s ability to build upon their existing excellence, engage deeply with real-world challenges, and contribute innovative thinking to the field—long before graduation.
Building communities of talented, passionate, and successful Black leaders in aerospace.
You aren’t on this journey alone — but too often, it can seem that way. In an industry that is 84% white, many Black students and young professionals in aerospace are isolated and tokenized. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship community is full of trailblazers and role models that can help our Fellows find their place in aerospace. An annual Summit give Fellows a chance to bond with their classmates and to meet current industry leaders, and a tight-knit alumni community continues to support and serve Fellows long after their internships are complete.
Providing grants that help launch careers.
Pursuing higher education and launching a career in aerospace shouldn’t be limited by financial barriers. From laptops and software to textbooks, tuition, and professional attire, the costs can quickly add up. That’s why each Patti Grace Smith Fellow receives a cash grant of $2,500 or more—flexible funding that can be used for tuition, school fees, or the tools and resources essential to their academic success. This support allows Fellows to stay focused on what matters most: advancing their education, building their skills, and shaping their future as aerospace professionals.
