WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office confirmed that, according to Air Force analyses, Redstone Arsenal is the preferred location for the U.S. Space Command headquarters.
In a report released today, GAO said the Air Force, after a reevaluation process, revalidated Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as its preferred SPACECOM headquarters location.
During its reevaluation, the Air Force reviewed basing requirements, selection criteria, and senior officials’ advice; analyzed costs; and evaluated implications of the Command’s declaration of full operational capability, among other things.
“At the culmination of this process in June 2023, the Air Force revalidated Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama as its preferred headquarters location,” the GAO said. “However, the then Secretary of the Air Force did not announce a final decision, and in July 2023, DOD announced the then President had selected Colorado Springs, Colo., as the permanent location for U.S. Space Command headquarters.”
Speaking to 256 Today, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong said today’s report confirms Redstone Arsenal is the best location for Space Command.
“This report was released and it says the same thing that Alabama already knows the cost to construct and maintain in Alabama would save the taxpayers of America $426 million,” said Strong (R-Huntsville). “You look, this report also talks about that what’s in Colorado is unsustainable. They’ve got multiple locations. It is not working like it should and all of it would have to be replaced.”
Strong said he is confident the headquarters for Space Command will be moved to Huntsville.
“We feel comfortable that we’re moving forward and I feel that Donald Trump’s going to do what’s right for national security and that is to bring Space Command to Huntsville,” he said. “That would be about 1,700 jobs with a 3,000-job spin-off.”
Strong said the Tennessee Valley is ready to support Space Command, pointing to previous moves involving BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure). BRAC 2005 brought thousands of jobs and residents to the Huntsville-Madison area, leading to economic growth and development.
“You look at it, we’ve gone through this before,” he said. “Base Realignment and Closure from St. Louis – greater than 60% relocated. But if they don’t (transfer), we’ve got plenty of graduates.
“We’ve got plenty of employees that will be happy to be a part of Space Command and making America what it’s going to be.”
According to the report, the Air Force’s reevaluation process incorporated some elements of 11 selected Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) best practices to revalidate its preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters.
In June 2022, we found shortfalls in the Air Force’s process for determining where to permanently locate U.S. Space Command headquarters,” the GAO said. “Our report helped prompt the Air Force to reevaluate it.”
For the reevaluation, the GAO said the Air Force reviewed requirements, selection criteria, costs, and senior officials’ advice.
“We also assessed the reevaluation process against 11 selected “Analysis of Alternatives” best practices, which can increase transparency and credibility,” the GAO said. “The Air Force incorporated some best practices, but shortfalls persisted.”
Air Force officials told GAO the reevaluation intended to address the seven best practices GAO found to be not met or minimally met in its 2022 report. GAO also determined the Air Force incorporated elements of four other best practices that GAO previously found were partially or substantially met.
Although GAO found that shortfalls persisted in these best practices, in March 2024, the Air Force strengthened its future strategic basing process by addressing GAO’s June 2022 recommendation to develop related guidance that is consistent with GAO’s AOA best practices.
“U.S. Space Command has rapidly increased its personnel and operational capabilities to meet mission objectives, reaching full operational capability in December 2023, nearly two years earlier than initially projected,” the GAO said. “The Command is fully operational, but U.S. Space Command officials told GAO that they faced ongoing personnel, facilities, and communications challenges. Officials also cited benefits in being colocated with operational space missions and centers.
“As a result of identified challenges, officials stated the Command’s posture is not sustainable long term and new military construction would be needed to support the headquarters’ operations in Colorado Springs, Colorado.”
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