With researchers working across campus and the university’s president deeply involved in the state’s space strategy, FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute is stepping in to connect science with policy.
Outer space may be infinite, but FIU’s moment to lead is right now.
Under its new president, the university is entering a new era of policy leadership during a time of unprecedented space exploration. Jeanette M. Nuñez, appointed earlier this year to lead Miami’s public research university, continues to serve as chair of Space Florida — the state’s aerospace finance and development authority — a role she retained after stepping down as lieutenant governor.
Space Florida supports a rapidly expanding network of private infrastructure, technology and launch operations. This has helped make Florida a hub for aerospace giants such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The space sector contributes nearly $6 billion annually to the state’s economy, supports more than 150,000 aerospace-related jobs and drives innovation and workforce development across multiple industries.
But the next frontier isn’t limited to rockets and satellites. Florida’s leaders — and FIU’s president — recognize that questions surrounding governance, security and policy will shape who controls space activity and who benefits from rising investment.
To tackle these broader challenges, FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy (JGI) is expanding its mission. Established in 1985, the institute has built a national reputation for its work in public policy, national security and cybersecurity. Now, it’s turning its attention to space.
“Space is not just a scientific frontier,” says Brian Fonseca, the institute’s director. “It’s a strategic domain where global economic, security and geopolitical interests are converging, and our policies must evolve accordingly.”
To support this effort, JGI has brought on space policy expert Laura Delgado López as a senior fellow. With more than 15 years of experience — including serving as a policy advisor to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate — she brings deep knowledge of space governance and international collaboration.
At JGI, Delgado López focuses on governance and space security, particularly in Latin America — a fast-growing region with an expanding “NewSpace” startup ecosystem. She is developing a “space policy dashboard” designed to map public and private space actors, identify policy gaps and improve international coordination.
This research aligns closely with the mission of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), headquartered in nearby Doral, which views space through the lens of strategic competition, regional partnerships and security in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Beyond policy leadership, FIU researchers across engineering, technology and science are pushing the university’s contributions to space exploration even further.
Delgado López also mentors students like Alexandra Bishop, a senior in the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs and a junior research analyst at JGI. Bishop examines China’s access to space facilities in Argentina and the implications for U.S. national security.
“My work at JGI has taught me how to analyze problems impartially and write accurate, thoughtful recommendations that are presented to policymakers,” Bishop says. Inspired by her father’s law enforcement career, she plans to pursue a future in national security.
For students, working alongside experts like Delgado López offers unparalleled exposure to the intersection of technology, strategy and global security — helping cultivate the next generation of leaders in space policy.
As the space sector continues expanding, FIU is preparing its students and researchers to lead, whether that means developing resilient technologies or shaping the policies that govern their responsible use.
“Space is still a young field, but with a rich history,” Delgado López notes. “That makes it an exciting industry for students to build their careers.”
Through the combined efforts of the Jack D. Gordon Institute, the College of Engineering & Computing and other partners, FIU is helping bridge science and policy — defining how humanity explores, secures and governs the final frontier.
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