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WASHINGTON – This week, Reps. Jim Banks (IN-03) and. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) sent a letter to United States Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett urging her to consider Grissom Air Force Base as the future site of the U.S. Space Command headquarters.
On August 29, 2019 President Trump activated the U.S. Space Command as the eleventh Unified Combatant Command. The Space Command will serve as a centralized authority for the U.S. military’s role in space. The Department of the Air Force will choose a permanent site for Space Command headquarters in early 2021, which is expected to become fully operational in about six years. The Space Command will have approximately 1,400 military and civilian personnel working in its headquarters.
“I applaud the Space Force for expanding their search beyond the traditional space hubs, like Colorado, California and Florida. Indiana has an established defense innovation base, superior educational institutions and a low cost of living; our state is innovative, primed for growth and I’m glad it isn’t being overlooked,” Said Rep. Banks. “Within Indiana, Grissom Air Force Base is an excellent candidate site. Its runway was designed as an alternative landing location for space missions and it has plenty of room for expansion. I encourage the Air Force to consider Grissom as they weigh options for the new U.S. Space Command headquarters.”
Please see below for the text of Rep. Banks and Rep. Walorski’s letter:
June 2, 2020
The Honorable Barbara M. Barrett
Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330-1670
Dear Secretary Barrett,
I applaud your leadership in establishing the U.S. Space Command, the sixth branch of the military and an accomplishment of great significance to our country. As you weigh options for the location of the headquarters for the U.S. Space Command, we urge you to consider Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana.
Grissom Air Force Base is a promising resource for space assets and personnel, with significant room for housing and office expansion. Grissom Air Force Base also has a 1,250 ft runway previously designated as an alternative landing location for space missions.
Indiana is an excellent location as the U.S. Space Command headquarters. Indiana’s low cost of living and access to nationally recognized Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math universities will prove to be a worthwhile investment for the U.S. Air Force. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb also values the partnership between defense industry, educational institutions, and the Department of Defense. In his 2020 State of the State address, Governor Holcomb committed to tripling Indiana’s federal defense investments. As defense investment continues to grow, a U.S. Space Command at Grissom Air Force Base will benefit from an increasingly vibrant national security ecosystem.
Thank you for considering Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana as the headquarters for U.S. Space Force. Please feel free to reach out to our offices with any further questions.
Sincerely,
