Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, the U.S. Air Force named Patrick Air Force Base among its final six locations for the U.S. Space Command headquarters and operating home of the U.S. Space Force. U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), who supported the formation of the Space Force since the beginning of his time in Congress, commended the Air Force’s decision on Thursday.

"I'm thrilled Patrick Air Force Base has made the final cut to become the headquarters for our U.S. Space Command,” Waltz said. “For decades, Florida has been home to American space launch and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. Without a doubt, there is no better place for our new Space Command headquarters than Florida’s Space Coast.

“Making the successful pitch to house the U.S. Space Command has been a statewide team effort. From Gov. DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Nuñez, Space Florida, as well as our entire congressional delegation, each of us understands the importance of space to the Sunshine State,” said Waltz. “Secretary Barrett and President Trump’s administration also deserve credit for a transparent and trustworthy site selection process that was broken when she took over.”

Since being sworn into office, establishing the U.S. Space Command and pitching Florida’s unique capabilities to be named the headquarters have been top priorities for Waltz.

Waltz’s first bill in Congress paved the way for creation of the unified combatant Space Command – and last February, he led a delegation letter to the Secretary of Defense supporting the establishment of Space Command and urging its headquarters to be located in Florida.

In May 2019, Waltz led another Florida delegation letter to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force requesting a fair and transparent site selection process. At that time, the process was opaque to Florida’s communities and Congressional Delegation.

Following the letter, a leaked Air Force memo included site locations for the headquarters, which excluded all Florida locations, leading to Waltz and U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio calling for the process to be scrapped.

Incoming Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett halted the previous process before a headquarters was officially selected.

In a House Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this year, Waltz and Barrett broke news that a new site selection process would occur in 2020. In May, these efforts resulted in a public process expanding potential basing locations for the headquarters.

In June, Gov. DeSantis submitted the nominations of eight sites as potential headquarters locations for Space Command. Brevard County, which includes Patrick Air Force Base, was among the sites submitted for consideration.