REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT) — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a joint resolution Tuesday encouraging officials to move Space Command’s headquarters to Redstone Arsenal.
Gov. Ivey signed Senate Joint Resolution 63 to continue to encourage the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense and the United States Secretary of the Air Force to “immediately proceed in establishing a permanent headquarters” for Space Command at Redstone Arsenal.
“Alabama Republicans and Democrats – along with the facts – agree the U.S. Space Command Headquarters belongs in Huntsville, Alabama!” Ivey said.
The resolution further emphasizes the 2021 announcement of Redstone Arsenal as the preferred location for Space Command’s headquarters.
“In determining where to permanently locate the United States Space Command Headquarters, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, consistently ranked as the top location throughout the selection process and compared more favorably across four key factors and 21 criteria than any other finalist location,” the resolution states.
The resolution highlights the findings and results from the Strategic Basing Action. This action found Huntsville provided a large and qualified workforce, quality schools, superior infrastructure and low initial and recurring costs to the DoD.
You can read the full joint resolution below.
It also says the action proved Redstone Arsenal “was and remains the best location for the headquarters” of Space Command.
On the other hand, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense released a report concerning the location of Space Command on Tuesday. It says, according to officials at Redstone Arsenal and information technology leaders at USSPACECOM, “constructing temporary operational facilities with the same capacity, connectivity and security as those already in use in Colorado Springs would take 3 to 4 years.”
The report from the inspector general said the USSPACECOM Commander had concerns to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force about risks to USSPACECOM’s readiness.
“Based on these concerns, the USSPACECOM Commander advised the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of Defense that the USSPACECOM headquarters should permanently remain in Colorado Springs,” the report said.
On April 8, Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers said the announcement of Space Command’s relocation could come this month.
“I expect sometime during the month of April, Space Command will be officially assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville,” Rogers said.
Senator Tommy Tuberville said everything is ready for Space Command in Huntsville.
“Everything’s ready,” Tuberville said. “We’ve got the land, we’ve got the process and we’ve got organization of what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it.”
He said he believes the president’s appointee for Secretary of the Air Force will be confirmed in the next few weeks, and he will be in charge of the decision. Tuberville said Dr. Troy Meink can move the Space Command headquarters if he’s confirmed.
The post Gov. Ivey signs resolution encouraging officials to move Space Command HQ to Redstone Arsenal ‘immediately’ appeared first on WHNT.
