In light of this week’s Department of Defense Inspector General evaluation of the U.S. Space Command basing decision, I feel compelled to add my voice to the conversation as the proud mayor of a city that has long stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the women and men who serve.
Let me start where it matters most. To the servicemembers and their families who call Colorado Springs home, thank you. Your commitment, sacrifice, and unwavering belief in the mission of our nation’s security inspire our community every day. Whether you were born here or stationed here, this is your hometown. And as your mayor, I am here to say, U.S. Space Command belongs where it started in 2019 and where it reached Full Operational Capability in 2023 – right here in Colorado Springs.
The U.S. Space Command debate isn't about geography. It’s a decision that cuts to the core of national security, mission readiness, and honoring the people who serve. Our city is a cornerstone of America’s defense infrastructure – mission-proven, strategically located, and built for the future of space.
From Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases to Cheyenne Mountain, Fort Carson, and the headquarters of NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Colorado Springs is unmatched in its integration of defense operations and community support. We are not just a host; we are a trusted partner. A community that understands the stakes, supports the families of our servicemembers, and moves at the speed of mission need.
We are not preparing to be ready; we are ready. With the nation’s highest concentration of space professionals and over 250 thriving space-related companies, Colorado Springs is the beating heart of America’s space ecosystem. Collaboration, innovation, and execution aren’t aspirational here – they are daily realities.
If we are serious about government efficiency, relocating U.S. Space Command now would come at an enormous cost—not just in dollars, but in time, momentum, and operational readiness. Billions have already been invested in facilities, talent, and partnerships right here. Uprooting that would mean duplicating infrastructure, delaying critical missions, and wasting taxpayer money to fix something that is not broken.
In a time when threats to our national security are accelerating, when precision and speed are paramount to staying ahead of China’s advancements, we must ask: Why introduce unnecessary risk? We simply can’t afford to.
Further, the fastest way to bring the strategic vision of Golden Dome to life is to work with key partners such as NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Space and Missile Defense Command, the space intelligence community and joint warfighting experts. All of which are located here on the Front Range.
To our servicemembers, you deserve stability. You deserve to live in a city where your kids thrive in great schools, where your spouse can build a fulfilling career, and where your service is honored not just in words, but in action. That’s the promise Colorado Springs delivers to you and to all our residents every day. That’s who we are.
To residents who are wondering why this matters. This is about national defense. About keeping our warfighters mission ready. And, yes, it is about protecting thousands of jobs and billions in economic impact across our region and state.
But most of all, it’s about doing what’s right. Right for our military. Right for the mission. Right for America.
I’m grateful to our Colorado congressional delegation for their steadfast support. And I call on federal leaders and decision-makers to ground this conversation in what truly matters – mission success and the well-being of the people who make it happen. This must be about more than location. It must be about effectiveness, readiness, and doing what’s best for our nation.
Onward and upward,
Blessing “Yemi” Mobolade
Mayor of Colorado Springs