Lawmakers want Arizona picked for Space Command headquarters
PHOENIX (AP) — Members of Arizona's congressional delegation are advocating for the state to be selected as the location of the permanent headquarters of the U.S. Space Command.
The offices of Republican U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said the lawmakers on Friday sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett advocating for the selection of an Arizona site and requesting a meeting to discuss Arizona's qualifications.
The other delegation members who also signed the letter were Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and David Schweikert and Democratic Reps. Ruben Gallego, Ann Kirkpatrick, Tom O’Halleran and Greg Stanton.
The lawmakers' letter said many Arizona cities meet the specified qualifications and that Arizona would be “the perfect location" for the command's headquarters because of its many aerospace and defense contractors, good climate and existing military installations.
Those installations include Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Luke Air Force Base in metro Phoenix, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and the Army's Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista.
Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been designated the command's initial quarters.
President Donald Trump formally launched Space Command in December. The goal is to improve the organization of U.S. military space operations and accelerate technical developments.
The new command will draw elements from across the military services. It will have the same status as other headquarters such as U.S. Cyber Command, Special Operations Command and Strategic Command.
There is also a Space Command within the Air Force. It also is based in Peterson.
Ohio and Kansas are among other states seeking the U.S. Space Command's new quarters.
