Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, met with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle on Monday as part of the move of the combatant command’s headquarters to Redstone Arsenal.
According to the city’s website, Battle and Whiting previously met in Colorado Springs, but Monday’s visit marked Whiting’s first visit to City Hall. Whiting spoke on a visit last month to the Space & Missile Defense Symposium, but that was before the move was announced by President Trump.
Whiting did not mention the potential move of the headquarters during his previous visit to the city.
During Monday’s visit Battle emphasized Huntsville’s strong relationship with Redstone as well as regional collaboration.
“We are honored to welcome Gen. Whiting to Huntsville,” Battle said. “This is an exciting moment for our city, but more importantly, it’s about ensuring the security of our nation. We look forward to working closely with Gen. Whiting and the entire Space Command team as they relocate to Redstone Arsenal.”
Whiting expressed Space Command’s enthusiasm for becoming part of the Huntsville community and said they are excited to partner with local leaders and Redstone, according to the city’s statement.
“North Alabama has been very welcoming, and we’re thrilled to be here on the ground,” Whiting said. “Our job right now is to figure out how expeditiously, in a professional and disciplined manner, we can start to make the move that the President has directed, all while continuing our vital national security missions, which is to defend American interests in space.”
Whiting said Space Command is just over six years old. Its mission is to evaluate and plan for how the U.S. can use its space capabilities to make America stronger and to defend the United States’ interests and its citizens, he said.
“We’re part of something a lot bigger than just Huntsville or Alabama, the mayor added. “We’re part of something that protects and defends our country. We, as a community, have been doing that for a long time. We take that mission very seriously.”
Space Command leadership also met with Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon and Madison Mayor Paul Finley.
Madison Mayor Paul Finley discusses U.S. Space Command’s move to Redstone Arsenal with Commanding General Stephen Whiting.U.S. Space Command
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