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McNAIR Center for Aerospace, Innovation, and Research

Growing SC's Knowledge-Based Workforce

The McNAIR Center fosters innovation and workforce development to develop engineered solutions that meet evolving needs of industry and government.

7

Student to Faculty Ratio

20+

Faculty Investigators

$30 mil

In Research Grants Each Year

 

42,000

Square feet of State-of-the-art Research Facility

500+

Employed in Knowledge-Based Economy

Team

Our Team on Advancing Aerospace Innovation

 

The McNAIR Center for Aerospace, Innovation, and Research brings together a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing South Carolina’s knowledge-based economy. Working alongside industry partners, government agencies, and USC faculty, the center leads research in composites, advanced manufacturing, thermoplastics, automation, predictive analytics, 3D printing, and digital transformation. McNAIR also develops the next generation of highly skilled engineers by involving students directly in industry-led projects across aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

Meet The Team

Upcoming Events

The NSMMS & CRASTE Symposium
McNAIR is attending the 2026 co-located NSMMS and CRASTE conferences in Columbia, SC, where leaders in space, missile, and commercial aerospace technologies gather to share research, strengthen industry partnerships, and support work force development.
McNAIR is Attending The 49th Annual CMS Conference
McNAIR will participate in the CMS Conference, the premier ITAR-restricted event for cutting-edge research and collaboration on advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for extreme aerospace and defense environments.
CAMX 2026 Composite and Advanced Materials Expo
McNAIR will attend CAMX 2026, the largest and most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America, bringing together industry leaders to showcase innovation, manufacturing advancements, and emerging technologies.
JEC World- Leading International Composites Show
Featuring ground-breaking solutions, unique manufacturing and business opportunities, JEC World is a networking hub of creativity, vision and action. It shows how composite materials push the limits of your projects and ambitions.
Farnborough Airshow - The Apex of Aviation
McNair is participating in the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the world’s leading aviation showcase for global innovation and industry partnerships.
AIAA SciTech Forum
McNAIR is participating in AIAA SciTech 2026, the leading aerospace research and technology forum driving innovation across the industry.
The Epicenter of Materials and Manufacturing Excellence
When advanced materials meet manufacturing, innovation takes center stage. Discover the game-changing collaborations, insights, and solutions that will fuel your next breakthroughs, in the region where aerospace giants and tech innovators call home.
IEEE Aerospace Conference
The IEEE Aerospace Conference is a premier, peer-reviewed, week-long international event that brings together global aerospace experts from academia, industry, government, and the military to share cutting-edge research and advancements.
McNAIR Will Be Attending The Carbon Fiber Conference
The Carbon Fiber Conference is a leading industry event delivering insights on carbon fiber manufacturing, cost optimization, and market trends while connecting attendees with influential leaders.
McNAIR at the International Composites Conference
ICCM24 is a premier international composites conference uniting researchers and industry leaders in Baltimore to share cutting-edge research and industry insights.
Where Aviation's Finest Meet - Singapore Airshow 2026
The Singapore Airshow is one of the world’s most influential aerospace events, bringing together global government, military, and industry leaders to forge partnerships and advance the international aerospace and defense market.
ACMA Thermoplastic Composites Conference
ACMA’s Thermoplastic Composites Conference is a collaborative industry event focused on high-performance thermoplastic innovations, applications, and education shaping the future of composites.

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​The road between South Carolina and space flight is not a very simple one, nor one filled with guarantees. In fact, the only guarantees to be found are those that reside in the unchallenged depths of one's own determination.

- Ronald E. McNair (1950-1986)

Ronald E McNair

Our Partners

Partnerships are critical to our success. We engage with industry partners, universities and the S.C. Department of Commerce to create opportunities for investment and collaboration through manufacturing research.

 

sc department of commerce

Home - South Carolina Aviation Association

File:Sikorsky Aircraft Logo.png - Wikimedia Commons

Download KUKA Logo in SVG Vector or PNG File Format - Logo.wine

Navy Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand

Advanced Automation for Winding of CNG and Hydrogen Tanks Event Details |  CompositesWorld

Ambrell Blog

hexcel

The Future of Defense Manufacturing Education and Workforce Development >  Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program > News

Download Collins Aerospace Logo in SVG Vector or PNG File Format - Logo.wine

boeing logo

nasa

SC Competes March '24 Newsletter - South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

KVE Composites Group BV - NIDV

 South Carolina Aeronautics

IBM Logo PNG Image - PurePNG | Free transparent CC0 PNG Image Library

RocTool : Innovating the Future of Plastic Injection Molding

haas

toray

siemns

joby

 

Integer Technologies, LLC - Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi - Wikipedia