Cape Canaveral, FL – Big news for the Space Coast, the U.S. Space Force has announced Patrick Space Force Base as the permanent headquarters for its Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM). This strategic decision underscores the region’s growing influence in national defense and space operations.

The choice of Patrick Space Force Base as the STARCOM headquarters follows an extensive environmental review confirming its suitability for the role. The base, which had been serving temporarily as the command’s hub, will now permanently host 350 personnel, including 69 officers, 49 enlisted members, and 132 civilians.

Florida representatives, including U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Bill Posey, whose district houses the base, played pivotal roles in securing this placement. Their efforts ensure that the Space Coast remains at the forefront of the U.S. military’s future in space training and readiness.

The mission of STARCOM at Patrick SFB is to develop the capabilities of the Space Force to succeed in space through cutting-edge training, doctrine development, and rigorous testing. “This permanent establishment will enhance our readiness and ability to conduct operations in space,” said a Space Force spokesperson. The facility will also serve as the home of Space Delta 10, a unit specialized in space tactics and wargaming.

This development is part of a broader expansion of Space Force facilities across the state, including the opening of a regional headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, which further positions Florida as a central player in America’s space defense strategy.

With its rich history in space exploration, Cape Canaveral is a fitting backdrop for STARCOM, promising a new chapter in the Space Coast’s storied contributions to America’s space endeavors.