The Florida congressional delegation, led by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., and U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and Bill Posey, R-Fla., sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Sec. Frank Kendall regarding his forthcoming selection of a permanent location for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM).
The lawmakers urged Kendall to select Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
“Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral SFS hold a unique place in America’s history of space flight and exploration,” the lawmakers wrote. “Every crewed mission to space in our nation’s history has launched from Brevard County, Florida. From Apollo, to the Space Shuttle, and the future Artemis missions, Florida has served as our nation’s gateway to the stars. NASA and DoD formed significant bonds with the local community, private industry, and academic institutions for more than half a century.”
Other signers of the letter included U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., Kat Cammack, R-Fla., Kathy Castor, D-Fla., Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Ted Deutch, D-Fla., Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Neal Dunn, R-Fla., Scott Franklin, R-Fla., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., Brian Mast, R-Fla., John Rutherford, R-Fla,, Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., Darren Soto, D-Fla., Greg Steube, R-Fla., Michael Waltz, R-Fla., Daniel Webster, R-Fla., and Frederica Wilson, D-Fla.
The letter is below.
Dear Secretary Kendall:
We write to urge you to select Patrick Space Force Base (SFB) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (SFS) as the permanent location of the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM).
Florida is the most military friendly state in the Union. Our state proudly hosts three combatant commands, 21 installations, and an effective national guard. Additionally, Florida has a robust defense industry spread throughout the state and is also home to top tier universities with cutting edge research programs with extensive history of working with the Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD). Florida also has the third highest veteran population.
Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral SFS hold a unique place in America’s history of space flight and exploration. Every crewed mission to space in our nation’s history has launched from Brevard County, Florida. From Apollo, to the Space Shuttle, and the future Artemis missions, Florida has served as our nation’s gateway to the stars. NASA and DoD formed significant bonds with the local community, private industry, and academic institutions for more than half a century.
We are grateful for your recognition of the value the State of Florida brings to the Air Force and Space Force in selecting Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral SFS as the sole-candidate to host Space Delta 10. Space Delta 10 will develop USSF doctrine and tactics, and execute wargames for the USSF. This selection will continue the long history of Floridians working hand in hand to advance America’s national security and leadership in space.
We urge you to continue this storied tradition by selecting Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral SFS to host STARCOM. Thank you for your fair and full consideration.
