With Search for U.S. Space Command HQ Underway, Crow Makes the Case for Colorado
As the search for a permanent headquarters for USSPACECOM continues, Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) spent the week in Colorado and Washington making the case for Buckley Air Force Base and Colorado as a whole.
On Monday, Crow met with Mark Kennedy, President of the University of Colorado, to discuss how they can work together to base Space Command in Colorado and expand the University's federal funding for defense, space, and aerospace research programs. Both Kennedy and Crow have cited the quality of Colorado's education system as a central component for why Colorado is the best home for space missions.
The next day, Crow met with General Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, to discuss updates to the basing process for USSPACECOM and highlight the aerospace talent, infrastructure, and quality of life in the Denver metro region. Raymond is the most senior uniformed official at Space Force and is responsible for building the Space Force in the years to come. During the meeting, Gen. Raymond highlighted the work of airmen at Buckley whose work manning our space capabilities gave servicemembers at Al Asad air base in Iraq the critical advance notice to take shelter from the Iranian ballistic missile strike in January.
Congressman Crow meeting with General Raymond this week.
"We may joke about how Colorado is one mile closer to space, but the reality is our state is an established leader in space with the workforce, resources, quality of life, and infrastructure necessary to make USSPACECOM a success. Colorado is America's Aerospace Alley. Already, Buckley Air Force Base has been tapped to be re-designated as a U.S. Space Base, a testament to Buckley's proud tradition and current preeminence. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I often discuss the changing nature of the threats to our national security and the paramount role that space will play in defending U.S. interests. I will continue to aggressively make the case for Buckley and our great state," said Crow.
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on March 4th, Crow questioned Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett about the basing process for Space Command and renewed his call for Buckley to serve as the permanent home to Space Command. In the exchange, Secretary Barrett revealed that the Air Force was once again refreshing their basing search and would be seeking input and additional information from candidate locations, like Buckley, in the next few months.
Congressman Crow questioning Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett at a House Armed Services Committee hearing this week.
In April 2019, Crow led a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force calling for U.S. Space Command to be based at Buckley Air Force Base, one of the six finalists being considered as the home for Space Command and the only location in Colorado being considered outside of the Colorado Springs area. Later that year, Crow and the entire Colorado delegation alongside Governor Polis sent a new letter to the U.S. Department of Defense reiterating their call for the headquarters to be reestablished in Colorado.