Scott Firsing, PhD

The Commercial Diplomacy Enterprise (CDE) is an example of @StateDept success in advancing the principles laid out in @POTUS National Security Strategy.  Since Jan 20, 2025, they have contributed to over $432 billion in wins for American companies. state.gov/releases/offic…

Beyond grateful and excited to play in my 27th @TheMasters this week. Augusta, a place so dear to my heart! #themasters 💚

The Artemis II astronauts recently showed off some of their historic cargo aboard the Orion spacecraft, including the American flag prepared for the Apollo 18 mission. The Apollo 18 and 19 missions were cancelled in September 1970 to focus on Skylab and developing the Shuttle.

Fly me to the Moon. 🌕 These stunning pictures were taken by the Artemis II crew during their pass over the lunar far side. The crew are now heading back to Earth, with NASA targeting 11 April for splashdown off the coast of San Diego. 🌍

Important Update from the National Flight Training Alliance - NFTA @nfta_us As many of you are aware, NFTA along with industry representatives and partners, has officially presented the comprehensive Part 141 Pilot School Modernization Initiative report to the FAA @FAANews. This 471-page document reflects extensive data, input, and perspectives gathered from the flight training industry during public meetings held from March 2025 through March 2026. To help the aviation community understand these important developments, we’ve launched a new series of short, digestible videos that break down the key insights shaping the future of flight training. We’re also publishing supporting articles in our Media & Newsroom to provide deeper context and actionable takeaways for stakeholders across the industry. 👉 Media & Newsroom: lnkd.in/gE8yPbfx 📺 YouTube Series: lnkd.in/gdeGbSQZ 📄 View the full report here: lnkd.in/gw_kM6Ra 🗓️ The extended public comment period closes on May 11, 2026: lnkd.in/gNnJnvuU Thank you for being part of this important mission. Scott Firsing - NFTA - VP: Legislative Affairs

There's a lot to process on Day 8 of the @NASAArtemis II mission. With Earth in view from Orion's windows, the astronauts are packing up and reflecting on their lunar journey.

NASA’s Artemis II mission is a truly global endeavor, and South Africa is proudly part of the story. Through the South African National Space Agency (@SANSA7) the Hartebeesthoek Ground Station (HartRAO) is playing a vital role in deep space tracking and communications. As part of NASA’s worldwide ground station network supporting the Orion spacecraft, SANSA’s team provides essential tracking, telemetry, and ranging data. This helps keep the mission connected, the spacecraft healthy, and the crew safely on course during this historic journey. South Africa’s contributions to space exploration have deep roots too. Upington Airport (FAUP) in the Northern Cape boasts one of the longest civilian runways in the world - Runway 17/35 stretches an impressive 4,900 meters (16,076 feet). With its clear desert skies, minimal obstacles, and strategic location, the airport has long been celebrated locally as a strong potential emergency landing site for large aircraft, including hypothetical Space Shuttle scenarios. While it was never formally designated as a NASA Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) site, its exceptional capabilities have made it a memorable part of South Africa’s space heritage narrative. Back in 2015, I had the privilege of taking my Aerospace Leadership Academy cadets to visit SANSA’s Space Operations at Hartebeesthoek. It was a chilly day, but the experience left a lasting impression; a powerful reminder of the talent, infrastructure, and ambition already thriving in Africa’s space ecosystem. Seeing those same facilities actively supporting today’s Artemis missions, while reflecting on Upington’s impressive runway standing ready in the desert, feels incredibly meaningful. Moments like these remind us why we invest in the next generation of aerospace leaders: because today’s students will become tomorrow’s mission enablers, innovators, and ground station operators. Here’s to SANSA, to South Africa’s growing, and historic role in space exploration, and to turning inspiration into real impact. #ArtemisII #SpaceExploration #SANSA #Aerospace #SouthAfrica #STEMEducation #SpaceHistory @USEmbassySA @USAmbRSA

Meet Us at Space Symposium 2026 🚀 Scott Sky Advisors will be on the ground in Colorado Springs from April 12–15 at one of the most important gatherings in the global space industry. From national security to commercial innovation, Space Symposium brings together the leaders shaping the future of space. If you’re attending and looking to connect across aerospace, defense, and emerging markets, let’s meet. 📍 Colorado Springs, CO 📅 April 12–15, 2026 #SpaceSymposium #Space2026 #ColoradoSprings #SpaceIndustry #Aerospace #Defense #NewSpace #SpaceEconomy #ScottSkyAdvisors #Innovation #FutureOfSpace

Honored to present my credentials to President @CyrilRamaphosa today. South Africa stands at a pivotal moment, with the talent, resources, and energy to shape and elevate its economic future. I am committed to partnering with leaders across government and business to resolve disagreements, unlock new opportunities, support entrepreneurship, and foster an environment where investment can thrive and jobs can grow. My focus is simple: strengthen the ties between our countries and deliver tangible, lasting economic progress for both South Africans and Americans.

Three things to do every day: Laugh. Think. Cry. Today, thinking about a close friend’s mom whose health has taken a turn, I keep coming back to Jim Valvano’s 1993 ESPY Awards speech. As a Rutgers University alum where Jimmy V once played and coached, it hits even closer to home. Many of us remember those words, delivered with cancer already taking its toll, just weeks before he passed. Standing at the podium, frail, but unbreakable…he looked cancer in the eye and gave the world a masterclass in how to live. Cherish every day. Lean on the people you love. Don’t let fear win. “Don’t give up… don’t ever give up.” That moment didn’t just inspire millions, it sparked the creation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which has since raised hundreds of millions to fight the disease that took him. So today, we laugh. We think. And yes… we cry a little. Because Jimmy V showed us that even when the clock is running out, you can still leave the game better than you found it. What’s one thing you’re doing today to live with that same fire? Drop it below 👇 and tag someone who needs this reminder. #JimmyV #NeverGiveUp #motivation #Rutgers #LiveEveryDay

A new milestone for humankind: The crew of Artemis II are now the farthest any human has ever travelled, reaching a maximum distance of 252,752 miles from Earth. This surpasses the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 by about 4,102 miles.

The U.S. pilot training system hasn’t kept pace with today’s aircraft, technology, or training environment. In this short explainer, we break down the 8 key recommendations developed by a wide cross section of the flight training industry to modernize Part 141—focused on improving safety, increasing efficiency, and expanding access for the next generation of pilots. From establishing a Central Management Office to leveraging the technology of advanced aircraft simulators, this initiative is about aligning training with the realities of modern aviation. Watch here: youtu.be/BcyUHeuO3Ik #Aviation #PilotTraining #FlightTraining #Part141 #AviationIndustry #FutureOfFlight #NFTA

On this Easter Sunday, we’re reminded that even after the darkest moments, light always rises. A day of renewal. A day of hope. A day grounded in faith. May we take a moment to reflect, give thanks, and share kindness with those around us because that’s where the real impact begins. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and meaningful Easter. #EasterSunday #Blessed #Faith #Hope #Renewal

@MarioNawfal Following the Stratolaunch Roc (117m wingspan), the next largest aircraft by wingspan/size is the historically unmatched Antonov An-225 Mriya (88.4m wingspan), though it was destroyed in 2022.

🇺🇸 Holy shit! The world’s largest aircraft just flew over Mojave (California) The insane Stratolaunch Roc with its massive 385-foot wingspan This thing is straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Which way to the Moon? This interactive tool lets you follow Artemis’s journey – and even scroll forward and backward in time! Follow along with Eyes on the Solar System: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-sys…

🚨 This was the Artemis II crew's view this morning from 41,756 miles (67,200 km) up No human has seen a crescent Earth in full since 1972

Many of my business partners and I share a life goal: to help humanity return to the Moon, push onward to Mars, and inspire the next generation to believe that the impossible is just the beginning. We’re standing on the edge of a new frontier, one that will be shaped by curious, bold young people who are ready to reach for the stars. Lifelong explorers who will take us further than we’ve ever gone before. Today, that future feels closer than ever. One of our partners, Frank, is on the ground at Cape Canaveral for the Artemis launch…a powerful reminder that this new frontier is already opening before us. Godspeed to the crew from all of us. The journey continues! 🚀 #Artemis #NewFrontier #SpaceExploration #NASA

April is here! What book are you most excited to read this month?

The launch team at @NASAKennedy are GO to begin filling the Artemis II rocket with fuel. The official launch broadcast begins at 12:50pm ET (1650 UTC). Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than 6:24 pm ET (2224 UTC). Tanking coverage can be found here: youtube.com/live/m3kR2KK8T…