WASHINGTON — The process to move the U.S. Space Command headquarters to the Rocket City took another step with the confirmation of Troy Meink as the Secretary of the Air Force.
The U.S. Senate voted 74-25 to approve Meink as the top civilian official for the Air Force, which oversees the Space Command.
“I was proud to confirm Troy Meink, President Trump’s pick, as Secretary of the Air Force,” said U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery). “I look forward to working with him and President Trump to permanently locate Space Command HQ in its rightful place at Redstone Arsenal.
“(Huntsville) was selected by the Air Force based on merit through a rigorous and objective process and continues to be the best choice for our national security.”
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a long-time supporter of Meink, made it official with Tuesday’s vote.
“There’ll have to be a discussion, and the Secretary of the Air Force will have a discussion with President Trump,” Tuberville (R-Auburn) said before the confirmation. “But the last two secretaries of the Air Force have picked Huntsville. Even Joe Biden’s (secretary) picked Huntsville.
“So, it’s the obvious thing to do. It’s the right thing to do.”
Meink entered the Air Force through ROTC in 1988 at South Dakota State University. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and later earned a doctorate in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Ohio State University.
He has logged time as a KC-135 navigator and instructor and as a lead test engineer for the design and evaluation of ballistic missile test vehicles for the Missile Defense Agency.Meink was the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space under the Obama administration.
Meink was selected by then-President Trump in 2020 to serve as principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, which is charged with developing and operating spy satellites and related technologies.
“Everyone knows that U.S. Space Command headquarters should be in Huntsville because that is best for our national security,” U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) told 256 Today. “I’ve met with President Trump and Vice President Vance and can assure you the topic of Space Command came up.
“The 21-category selection speaks for itself and I look forward to the new Air Force secretary recommending Huntsville to be the permanent home for Space Command headquarters when he is sworn in.”
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