By Trang Do - Bio | Email
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - More layoff notices are expected for NASA contractors in the coming week.
A Huntsville group formed before the first round of layoffs earlier this year is continuing its mission to help those laid-off find work.
The Huntsville Space Professionals already have a career strategy session planned for these workers.
Group leaders say they're confident the jobs will come back.
In the latest round of cuts at the Marshall Space Flight Center, early estimates range anywhere from 150 to 250 contractor jobs will be lost, but the number could be greater.
The layoffs are the result of the axing of the Constellation Ares rocket program and the retirement of the space shuttle.
"We were informed that Jacobs Engineering will be sending out notices, next week, roughly about 175 notices will be sent out to the contractors at Marshall working on the Constellation Ares project," said Andrew Sutinen, director of the Huntsville Space Professionals.
Sutinen says on top of that figure, he's been told 175 others working on the space shuttle program are also expected to get notices.
"So in total we're talking about 350 folks," he said.
Sutinen was a contractor laid-off in the first round of NASA cuts in July.
He has since found another job and has made it his mission to help others facing the same challenge -- through HSP.
"We are going to provide a forum for individuals who have lost their jobs to connect to companies interested in hiring them," he said.
The group's next event is scheduled for October 15th at UA-Huntsville's Chan Auditorium from 1pm to 2:30pm.
It'll be a career strategy session open to the public.
"Talk about what's available, what careers, what openings might be available here in Huntsville and what's the go forward plan," Sutinen said.
Ultimately, Sutinen says there could be big opportunities for those laid-off in the untapped commercial space industry.
"These commercial space companies that are just evolving, they're excited that they can partake in the pool of talent that they have here in Huntsville," he said.
To find out more about the Huntsville Space Professionals and their upcoming events, check out their website by clicking here.
In related news, Marshall Space Flight Center Director Robert Lightfoot is expected to address the media on Tuesday about the latest developments at NASA.
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