Florida International University (FIU) is increasing its focus on space governance and security issues as Florida expands its role in the space industry. Under the leadership of its new president, Jeanette M. Nuñez, FIU is taking a prominent position in shaping policy at a time when space exploration is at an all-time high.
Nuñez, who was selected earlier this year to lead Miami’s public research university, also continues to chair Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority. She was reappointed by the governor after stepping down as lieutenant governor. Space Florida supports private facilities and infrastructure related to spacecraft launches and recovery, helping attract companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin. The state’s space sector contributes nearly $6 billion each year to Florida’s economy and supports more than 150,000 aerospace-related jobs.
The Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy (JGI), established in 1985 at FIU, has built a national reputation for research on public policy, national security, and cybersecurity topics. JGI is now extending its expertise into space-related issues.
“Space is not just a scientific frontier,” said Brian Fonseca MA ’10, Ph.D. ’25, director of the institute. “It’s a strategic domain where global economic, security and geopolitical interests are converging, and our policies must evolve accordingly.”
To further this work, JGI recently hired Laura Delgado López as senior fellow. Delgado López brings over 15 years of experience in space policy and previously served as a policy advisor to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. At JGI she focuses on space governance and security with an emphasis on Latin America—a region experiencing rapid market growth in the “NewSpace” startup ecosystem that plays an increasingly important role in the global space economy.
Her upcoming “space policy dashboard” aims to map public and private actors in the sector to identify gaps in policy and encourage international cooperation.
This research aligns with JGI’s mission of providing rigorous analysis that informs real-world decision-making. It also matches the priorities of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), based nearby in Doral, which views developments in outer space through lenses of strategic competition and regional security partnerships—particularly those involving Latin America and the Caribbean.
Delgado López mentors students like Alexandra Bishop from FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs; Bishop researches China’s access to Argentinian space facilities and their 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 said.
By connecting students with experienced professionals such as Delgado López, FIU provides hands-on learning about technology strategy and global security—helping prepare future leaders for roles in space policy.
“Space is still a young field, but with a rich history,” said Delgado López. “That makes it an exciting industry for students to build their careers.”
Collaborative efforts among entities like JGI and FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing aim to bridge science with policymaking so that humanity can responsibly explore—and govern—outer space.
