STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — The City of Sterling Heights announced Tuesday it has submitted a nomination to be the future headquarters for the U.S. Space Force.
Mayor Michael Taylor submitted the nomination to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force to consider the Macomb County city as the future HQ. It was co-signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
“When the City’s nomination is scored, we are confident that Sterling Heights will be a prime location for the headquarters for the United States Space Command,” Taylor said in a relelase. “There is a rich heritage in this region for defense assets and this is a strong foundation for this new undertaking.”
The city says its proximity to Selfridge Air National Guard Base and the strong presence of defense companies in the city and in Macomb County make it a great location for the Space Force.
"Working alongside our governmental partners and private industry, we have grown to understand that Macomb County is a leader in defense production and innovation," Hackel added in the release. "As our state explores the feasibility of landing the United States Space Command in our community, we stand ready to illustrate our competitive advantage and showcase the inspiring capabilities we have right here in Macomb."
“As part of this nomination process, we have done an extensive review of the United States Space Command competition criteria,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “It is clear that with Macomb County’s industrial base, elite academic institutions, skilled manpower, strategic geographic location, and military infrastructure, there is no location that can offer greater value or capacity as a key component for future U.S. Space Forces.”
Currently, the Space Force is temporarily headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado
The Space Force was established on Dec. 20, 2019 within the Air Force, after being announced by President Trump
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is a new branch of the Armed Forces. It was established on December 20, 2019 with enactment of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and will be stood-up over the next 18 months. The USSF was established within the Department of the Air Force, meaning the Secretary of the Air Force has overall responsibility for the USSF, under the guidance and direction of the Secretary of Defense. Additionally, a four-star general known as the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) serves as the senior military member of the USSF. The CSO is a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
