Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) is lauding the Department of Defense’s (DOD) recent decision to temporarily establish U.S. Space Command in Colorado, noting it harnesses the state’s existing military assets.
Gardner, an advocate for the initiative, said the temporary establishment at Peterson Air Force Base would aid in coordinating space operations for the military and address emerging threats in space.
“Colorado is proud to play a pivotal role in our national defense and military space operations, which is why I pushed the Department of Defense to reestablish the U.S. Space Command in Colorado,” Gardner said. “Whether it’s the work done out of Schriever Air Force Base, the National Space Defense Center, the work taking place at United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, all of these mission elements, together, make Colorado the perfect place to be the home of U.S. Space Command.”
Peterson Air Force Base Commander John “Jay” Raymond presiding over a ceremony formally recognizing the command’s new unit in Colorado Springs, with officials noting Colorado was the first home of the Space Command when it was previously established at Peterson Air Force Base in 1985 while the state continues to possess the trained personnel and technical expertise to assume the responsibilities of a Unified Combatant Command for space and the responsibilities assigned to United States Strategic Command.