Ashley Corina Rodriguez, a communication arts major and Honors College student at Florida International University (FIU), recently participated in an FIU-organized fly-in seminar to Washington, D.C. focused on space, aerospace, and innovation policy.
Rodriguez described the experience as pivotal for her academic and professional growth. She is currently interning at NASA in strategic communications and noted how decisions made in Washington, D.C. directly affect programs like those she works on. “The fly-in helped me realize just how essential communicators are within this field, and how I can use my skills to tell stories that make innovations understandable and meaningful not only within Congress, but beyond that,” Rodriguez said.
During the trip, students met with professionals from government agencies such as the U.S. Space Force, think tanks, law offices specializing in aerospace policy, and visited Capitol Hill. There they learned about legislative processes related to science and technology funding. A key moment was meeting Congressman George Whitesides, Vice Ranking Member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and former NASA official. “These meetings deepened my understanding of how federal legislation and industry partnerships can change the trajectory of science projects in our country,” Rodriguez stated.
The group also toured Honeywell’s Washington facility to observe technological products used in aviation and aerospace sectors. They attended an event hosted by FIU in DC titled Capitalizing on Universities for National Security, where Rodriguez served as a student moderator leading discussions with representatives from the Department of Defense, FIU faculty, and private capital firms about bridging gaps between university research and industry.
Additionally, students participated in the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition to network with professionals and explore emerging technologies. Rodriguez emphasized the importance of adaptability given rapid changes in technology policy: “As a future communicator, I must remember to stay curious and to remain a lifelong learner to respond effectively to change.”
Reflecting on her experience, Rodriguez said: “This fly-in has given me the confidence and career direction I needed. It reaffirmed my current pursuits of being a communicator but also opened my eyes to possibly working at the intersection of communication and policy.” She expressed interest in informing the public about space technology through public policy work.
