Atlas Air Worldwide has strengthened its partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) to boost workforce development in aviation. At an event held at Merrill Field, Atlas leadership and UAA faculty met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who leads President Trump’s initiative to modernize the nation’s airspace and address critical shortages of pilots, controllers, and mechanics. The move underscores the importance of aviation to Alaska’s economy, especially with Anchorage International Airport (ANC) being one of the world’s top five cargo hubs. UAA’s highly regarded aerospace program plays a key role in preparing students for these vital jobs. As part of its continued commitment, Atlas renewed its scholarship program, expanding support for students pursuing careers as maintenance technicians and pilots. These efforts aim to secure a steady talent pipeline and support national goals of strengthening and modernizing U.S. aviation infrastructure.
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean P. Duffy, promised: “President Trump and I are on a mission to make our airspace the envy of the world. We will build a brand-new air traffic control system and address a chronic shortage of controllers and pilots. President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill delivered over USD 100 million into the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative to deploy state of the art technology and train the next generation of aviation talent. I applaud Atlas Air Worldwide for doing their part to contribute to this mission.”
Michael Steen, Atlas Air Worldwide Chief Executive Officer, confirmed: “We are proud to continue our partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage by creating opportunities to advance aviation education. By investing in workforce development locally, we are advancing our commitment to aviation in Alaska, and to the resilience of the broader aerospace industry. We are fully dedicated to supporting the efforts led by President Trump and Secretary Duffy to make our airspace the global gold standard.”
Ray Weber, Dean of UAA’s Community & Technical College, said: “We are grateful to Atlas Air Worldwide for its continued investment in UAA and our students. This generous donation is transformative, helping us build a more qualified workforce that is vital to Alaska’s economic future and the broader industry. Thanks to Atlas, our students are gaining the training and credentials needed to pursue fulfilling careers, securing brighter prospects for the state’s workforce and beyond.”
