This is an opinion column
Today’s guest columnist is Michael Ward
As a frequent visitor to Colorado Springs for more than 30 years, I’ve grown to love both the people and the geography of the Rocky Mountains. While most of my visits have been work-related, they’ve also given me the chance to visit family in the Denver area and enjoy the incredible beauty and outdoor activities the region has to offer.
For the last few years when I’ve visited Colorado, when I’ve been asked by my uber driver or waiter about where I’m from, as someone from Huntsville, Alabama, my answer has often led to some interesting conversations. The reaction from my hosts is usually something along the lines of “why is Huntsville trying to take Space Command away from us?”
My response to this question has been to ask them what they know about Huntsville and our connection to space exploration and defense? Their answer to that question has typically been: “Not much.”
And so, for however long the encounter allows, I’m happy to share some space history nuggets with them that usually has them scratching their heads. They simply had no idea that Huntsville, Alabama, is the birthplace of the USA’s space program.
They’re stunned to learn that Huntsville is place where the first rockets that launched American satellites into orbit and American astronauts into space were designed and manufactured. The place that developed the rockets that took us to the Moon? Yep, Huntsville, Alabama.
They’re usually gobsmacked when I tell them that almost half of the Army’s weapons procurement budget is managed on the local military base – Redstone Arsenal – and that the Army’s aviation, missile, missile defense and space commands are headquartered there.
And while a lot of Colorado politicians have framed the decision to locate Space Command headquarters in Huntsville as a political move, the truth is that the Air Force selected Redstone Arsenal in an objective process, based entirely on its merits. That merit-based decision was verified by the Secretaries of the Air Force for both Presidents Biden and Trump, as well as the Government Accounting Office and the DoD Office of the Inspector General.
That doesn’t mean that all Coloradans have to agree with the decision – but that’s the truth.
We now find ourselves in a critical situation as the Space Command will be moving to Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville, Alabama. It’s important to our national security that the move happens as smoothly as possible.
For some of the existing Space Command employees, this will be an exciting opportunity to explore new places and make new friends. For others, it will be more challenging.
As a community, we are committed to doing everything possible to make this transition a positive experience. Those who choose to come will be in good company — joining the thousands who have relocated to Redstone over the past 35 years through BRAC realignments and, more recently, the FBI’s new HQ2.
They’ll likely find that the cost of living here is a little lower and there’s a lot less snow. We have great outdoor activities and were ranked by REI as one of the top places in the US for hiking. There’s lots of wilderness with great mountain bike trails and lots of white water (and fishing and hunting) to enjoy. There’s a vibrant entertainment industry and a booming downtown.
Those who move here with Space Command will make our community stronger — just as every wave of newcomers before them has done. Our strength comes from the diversity of experiences and perspectives that new residents bring.
Carl Jones, the namesake of Huntsville’s Jones Valley, was fond of saying in the 60’s that: “Those who were born here were just lucky and those who moved here were just smart.” That sentiment still rings true today.
Michael Ward is Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs at the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
View from the Top is a weekly column from AL.com exploring the answers to the questions of “Why Huntsville? Why now? What happens next? And what can the city do to handle so much growth and change?” Ideas or volunteers for a guest column can contact Doug Martinson at dougii@martinsonandbeason.com.
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