President Donald Trump last week announced the formal establishment of the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), the 11th Unified Combatant Command of the U.S. Department of Defense.
While the command has now been officially stood up, led by Air Force General John W. “Jay” Raymond, one big question remains: Where will USSPACECOM be headquartered?
For now, the command will have a temporary headquarters of approximately 287 people at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
With a manpower study underway to determine the future size of the command, the Department of Defense is weighing six previously selected finalist locations for the eventual permanent headquarters.
Peterson Air Force Base, the temporary headquarters, is also a finalist for the permanent location, as are three other Colorado locations.
The six finalists are: Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado; Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
While Colorado might have more finalists in the mix, Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal can certainly hold its own — and then some.
In a Tuesday letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01) reiterated Redstone Arsenal’s case for housing USSPACECOM permanently.
In a statement, Byrne commented, “The space legacy and unmatched workforce of the Rocket City make it an ideal choice for the U.S. Space Command headquarters. Huntsville’s contributions to America’s space program and national security have expanded over the years, making Huntsville the premier hub of America’s space technology. I have no doubt Huntsville is perfectly situated to rise to the occasion as Space Command headquarters.”
In his letter, the coastal Alabama congressman and Republican U.S. Senate candidate outlined, “Huntsville has the infrastructure and the highly skilled workforce for space technology, especially for the development of rocket propulsion systems and technologies.”
“Nowhere in the United States can match the workforce, history, infrastructure, resources, and support that you will find in North Alabama,” Byrne concluded. “The Huntsville community is the past, present, and future of space technology and an integral player in our national security.”
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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