Missile Development: Which Military Branch Does That?

I'm a rising junior with an interest in aerospace engineering. One of the career paths I'm considering is military, but I'm curious to know which branch deals with missile development specifically. Can anyone shed light on this?

Certainly, missile development in the U.S. military is a crucial area that requires specialized knowledge and skills in aerospace engineering. Most often, the creation and management of missile systems falls under the jurisdiction of the Air Force and the Navy.

The United States Air Force is deeply involved in missile development and operation through its Global Strike Command. The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), for example, is operated by the Air Force. You'd have opportunities to work on maintenance, upgrades, or development of such systems. Moreover, parts of the Air Force Space Command (now under the U.S. Space Force) have also been involved in missile-tracking systems.

The U.S. Navy is also significantly involved in missile development, primarily with regard to submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Developing and maintaining these missiles, which are launched from submarines, could offer fascinating challenges for an aerospace engineer.

In both branches, a combination of active duty personnel, civilian engineers, and defense contractors work together on missile development and maintenance.

Also remember, while we typically associate the military with active deployment, there's a vast range of roles and functions within each branch. Particularly in technical fields like aerospace engineering, there's a high demand for skilled individuals to develop, maintain, and innovate these highly complex systems.

That being said, it could be a good idea to reach out to representatives or recruiters from each branch to get a more detailed understanding of what paths exist in each service, and what roles they might see as a fit for an aerospace engineer. That would help you make a more informed decision about your potential career path. Remember, while your interest in missile technology is specific, being open and aware could lead you to other compelling opportunities within the military as well.