APPEL Knowledge Services provides NASA’s technical workforce with a broad range of training courses and career development programs to build their skills and competencies. These courses and programs prepare program managers, project managers, and systems engineers with the skills and insights they need to advance NASA’s portfolio of ambitious missions. 

APPEL Courses

NASA’s Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) delivers courses to thousands of participants each year across all NASA centers, serving as a cornerstone of the agency’s commitment to technical workforce development. These courses offer hands-on, experiential training that equips early-to-senior career professionals with the practical knowledge and leadership skills needed to succeed in NASA’s complex, high-stakes missions. By fostering technical excellence and professional growth, APPEL courses help ensure a steady stream of project managers, system engineers, and technical experts who are prepared to tackle the agency’s most critical challenges and drive innovation across the aerospace community. 

Engineering Development Program (EDP) 

The Engineering Development Program (EDP) is a 10-month, cohort-based learning experience that prepares high-performing, mid-level engineers to operate from a systems perspective, balancing deep technical expertise with programmatic awareness and agility to ensure NASA’s technical excellence.

Designed for engineers who are taking on increasing technical, integration, and leadership responsibilities, EDP provides participants with opportunities to broaden their perspective beyond their individual discipline, project, or Center. Through a series of intensive workshops, center visits, practitioner engagement, and group discussions, participants gain exposure to a variety of situations that shape engineering decisions across the Agency.

PM Success Lab 

The APPEL Knowledge Services Project Management Success Lab is a comprehensive six-month program designed for mid-career project managers to sharpen their skills and elevate their impact on complex NASA missions. Through a series of one-week sessions held at various NASA centers, participants dive into focused topics such as risk management, budget, stakeholder communication, and technical integration. Each session blends targeted APPEL courses, personalized mentoring, and benchmarking opportunities with seasoned NASA project managers. This hands-on, experience-rich format allows participants to immediately apply what they learn, strengthening both individual capabilities and project outcomes. 

PM Bridges Mentoring Program

The APPEL Knowledge Services Project Management Bridges Mentoring Program strengthens project management excellence across NASA by fostering meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. Aimed at emerging and mid-career program and project managers, the program provides structured guidance and development opportunities aligned with NASA’s core project management competencies. Through regular, goal-driven interactions, participants gain practical insights, expand their professional networks, and build confidence in navigating complex program challenges. In addition to advancing technical and leadership skills, the program promotes knowledge sharing, cross-center collaboration, and personal growth, ultimately supporting both individual career advancement and mission success at NASA. 

International Project Management and Engineering Collaboration (IPMEC) Course

The International Project Management & Engineering Collaboration (IPMEC) course prepares participants to work effectively with a variety of partners to support complex international aerospace missions.

Participants explore the different ways that international projects can be structured, coordinated, and executed, with a focus on aligning the engineering and project management practices of partner organizations. The course addresses the practical impacts of different organizational processes, regulatory environments, and decision-making approaches.

Through case studies, group discussions, and team-based exercises, participants build practical skills in communicating across cultures, presenting technical information to international audiences, and working effectively in multinational teams. Participants also gain a clearer understanding of how different space agencies operate, including their project management approaches, organizational norms, and expectations, with an emphasis on how work is carried out across institutions.

By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to work across agencies and contribute to international aerospace projects.