Aerospace & Aviation

Where Business Takes Flight

Whether you’re in search of aircraft hangar space or air routes for advanced air mobility, turn to Maryland, a growing mecca for aerospace and aviation. Here you’ll also find a dense concentration of aerospace engineering talent, as well as a growing industry sector of more than 9,000 companies. And with several mission-critical federal and military agencies here, the industry’s most sought after customers are just a handshake away.

#1

Concentration of aerospace engineers (California-Lexington Park)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment, May 2023.

#6

Undergraduate Engineering (The United States Naval Academy)

Source: U.S. News and World Report, America’s Best Colleges and Best Graduate Schools, 2025.

#1

Professional and technical workers

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey; ranking excludes Washington D.C., 2024.

Explore Maryland’s Aerospace Ecosystem

Maryland has a dense concentration of federal and academic institutions that propel our aerospace industry forward. Additionally, Maryland is home to many private sector aerospace innovators – from pioneering startups to some of the world’s most recognized aerospace leaders.

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Airports

A Robust Network

Maryland businesses have access to one of the busiest and most successful airports on the East Coast (BWI) with plenty of top performing feeder airports surrounding the area (Martin State, Hagerstown, Tipton, Salisbury, Frederick).

Workforce

Top Talent

Maryland is one smart state – one of the smartest in the nation, actually. When you take a closer look at aerospace and aviation professionals, you see an even brighter picture. A well-stocked industry talent pool that continues to grow, thanks to top-rated programs at the University of Maryland and U.S. Naval Academy; two Centers of Excellence for Autonomous Vehicles (University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins), and a Maryland branch of the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.

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R&D at the Ready

Rich with Federal Assets

Maryland has more federal tech transfer facilities than any other state. Within the state’s borders, find 20 military facilities. Here, industry innovation is fueled by the high concentration of R&D happening within these military and federal facilities, including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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Customers & Partners

A Built in Customer Base

Location barriers limit your business? Not in Maryland. Here up-and-coming aerospace and aviation companies have next-door access to pitch products and services to federal agencies, including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Wallops Flight Facility. And partnering with major military installations can be a reality instead of a dream with military facilities like Naval Air Station Patuxent River or Aberdeen Proving Ground just a car ride away. Let’s not forget the other major players with roots in Maryland – Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab – which provide even more collaborative opportunities for business.

The Maryland Difference

Maryland is equipped with all you need and more to have your company soar with success. See what sets Maryland apart in the aerospace and aviation industries.

Maryland: Command Center for the World’s Most Powerful Space Observatory

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, is operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore. From this world-renowned center, scientists manage Webb’s mission, processing and distributing its data to researchers around the globe. Maryland’s leadership in this historic endeavor highlights the state’s unmatched expertise in space science, engineering, and data management.

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Industry Deep Dive

Maryland’s integrated ecosystem drives breakthroughs that shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Uncrewed Systems

Maryland companies have access to the University of Maryland UAS Test Site for aircraft and sensor development; available hangar space at Salisbury Airport specifically developed for UAS operations; and the possibility for coordination with two DoD bases for military uncrewed vehicle development.

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Defense & Intelligence Systems

Next to D.C. and home to key federal agencies like the National Security Agency, Maryland companies leverage this location advantage. The state leads in developing advanced technologies for secure communications, surveillance, missile defense, cybersecurity, and intelligence analysis. Maryland’s companies, research institutions, and government labs collaborate to develop cutting-edge systems that protect national security, making the state a critical hub for defense innovation and high-tech solutions.

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Satellites

Maryland plays a major role in satellite innovation, from design and engineering to mission operations and data analysis. Companies and research centers across the state develop and build satellite components, sensors, and communications systems, while institutions like NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center lead satellite missions that monitor Earth, explore the solar system, and study the universe.

Sensors

Sensor innovation in Maryland is powered by world-class federal and academic research centers. Institutions like NIST and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, which lead advancements in satellite instruments, measurement science, and defense systems. Labs at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, and UMBC’s Center for Advanced Sensor Technology drive breakthroughs in materials, optics, and bio-sensing technologies, translating cutting-edge research into practical applications for the aerospace industry.

The Maryland Aerospace Technology Commission

Established in 2024, the MATC is on a mission to promote innovation in space exploration, commercial aerospace, aeronautics and aviation, and to integrate those industries into Maryland’s economy.

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