New frontier of space policy inspires AAE sophomore to pursue public service certificate

 

Lucia Morton initially thought that the email from the Office of Professional Practice (OPP) might have been spam.

 

But she was intrigued: A certificate that combined her interest in space policy with her aeronautical and astronautical engineering (AAE) career path was enticing. The Innovation for Public Service Industry Knowledge Certificate mentioned in the email turned out to be real, and Morton added it to her graduation plan in spring 2025.

 

By May, Morton was already immersed. She took part in Boilers Go to D.C. as one of two engineering students on the weeklong trip filled with liberal arts students. Morton began to look at her double major — AAE and political science — inquisitive peers and space policy through a broader light.

 

“I’ve never had that kind of exposure to so many non-engineers before, and now, some of my best friends are from it,” Morton said. “It was really nice to toggle between the engineering and liberal arts perspectives in our group discussions.”

Morton’s interest in space policy began as a high school student in Virginia, interning at the NASA Langley Research Center for two years. It only made sense to continue that path when she moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, to attend Purdue University in fall 2024.

 

The public service certificate is one of three that combines academic education with the intricacies of industry to develop well-rounded engineers with competitive industry skills. In collaboration with the civic leadership platform NobleReach Foundation provides, students across STEM disciplines can tailor their career to the public sector with a 16-credit hour certificate. That’s part of why Morton is spending the spring 2026 semester on a Cooperative Education (Co-op) rotation with MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Boston.

 

And why she launched into policy research in spring 2025 through a VIP project. The following fall, Morton was a researcher with the Purdue Policy Research Institute and an intern for the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. When tackling a space policy problem, Morton wants to understand it from every angle.

 

The well-rounded nature of Morton’s experiences brings potential for the sophomore to become an informed legislator — or expert advisor to one, aligning with her career ambitions.

 

“(Space policy) is the most interesting and exciting way to apply my interests in both worlds,” Morton said. “I’ve joined several labs this past year with a focus in space, and on one of my teams, we’re co-advised by a law professor and an engineering professor to compose policy reports for the State Department. It’s so enlightening to see how many diverse academic backgrounds are required to develop effective policy.”

 

But for now? Morton’s goals are a little different. Graduate from Purdue. Earn a doctorate. Become an expert in space governance, which has already become her “bread and butter.” Work in public-facing roles to educate and collaborate on space policy with experts and communities alike. And support the nation in navigating the next space race through government-sponsored research initiatives.

 

“There are a bunch of non-governmental actors trying to build their own space policy, and if governments don’t set the pace, the industry will set it first,” Morton said. “I need to spend time deep in the technical realm before I can have the credibility to create policy. After that, I can begin digging into more public roles.”

 

Morton’s ambition to change the world coupled with an openness to learning across disciplines makes her an ideal representative of the certificate, according to AAE peer Benton Struchtemeyer.

 

“Lucia Morton sets a standard for what young engineers and public servants are capable of. Her caring personality and skills give her exemplary abilities to understand and communicate complex topics both technically and politically. I'm confident that Lucia will win accolades and better the world in whatever she does.”