Commentary: Why Space Command should stay in Colorado Springs – By Gen. Gene Renuart (ret.) (Air Force Times) / Mar 30 2021
The decision to move U.S. Space Command should be thoroughly investigated and allow senior military leadership to identify the best location to support a critical national security mission
When the Department of Defense and the Air Force announced in January that Huntsville, Alabama, had been chosen as the permanent location for U.S. Space Command, the 11th combatant command, I was surprised and disappointed. More so when I read the recent reports of the Air Force’s ratings of Peterson Air Force Base, as middle or bottom third relative to the six finalists in several categories.
As a former commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command — both at Peterson — I know firsthand the community and base support at Peterson is second to none. Every day they meet the highest standards required by a combatant command.
One of the most glaring errors of the Air Force report is the low ranking for “enable mobility,” a category described as proximity to an airfield and ability to support distinguished visitor travel. Peterson AFB shares its runways with Colorado Springs Airport, providing two parallel runways of over 10,000 feet in length and a third of nearly 8,000 feet.
Peterson is the second busiest DV airport in the Department of Defense, including frequently hosting Air Force One. It is surprising that any location beat Peterson in this category. It is also home to four major airlines and two “destination” carriers, with service to major hubs from the East to the West Coast. The airport is rarely closed down for weather, even when Denver closes for heavy snow. The airport provides quality investment incentives for both commercial and general aviation users, and it is home to numerous international shippers.
