Honorable President Trump, Colorado Is the Epicenter of National Security
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Honorable President Trump, Colorado is the epicenter of national security space and the only permanent home for U.S. Space Command. We are the past, present, and future of the mission. The mission of U.S. Space Command is vital to our national security and way of living. Colorado offers an unparalleled environment that will ensure the operational success of the mission for generations to come. We are home to multiple military installations and major commands, including critical elements of the nascent U.S. Space Force, a thriving aerospace industry consisting of major prime contractors and small businesses, and groundbreaking academic and research institutions. We offer a fully-integrated ecosystem of commercial, academic, and civil space assets that support the mission and offer vital synergies. In fact, Colorado has the second- largest aerospace economy in the country with the highest density of private-sector space employees of any state. Colorado’s unmatched aerospace ecosystem produces unparalleled unity of effort, speed, and agility to guarantee a secure, stable, and accessible space domain. Colorado provides the existing command structure, base infrastructure, and communications platforms necessary to successfully host additional national security initiatives and ensure coordination of efforts without committing restrictive additional funds. We have spent decades actively and deliberately cultivating the ideal environment necessary to support the mission and its personnel. The cost of attempting to rebuild what Colorado already has will cost significant taxpayer dollars. Nestled against the Rocky Mountains with over 300 days of sunshine annually and one of the healthiest and most active states in the nation, we know that Colorado is the ideal location for military members, their families, and space professionals to live, work, and train. According to U.S. News and World Report, Colorado offers four of the five best places to live in the United States, including Colorado Springs. Colorado has all the amenities that will both attract and retain a highly educated, productive military space operations workforce. Colorado provides an exceptional environment for military veterans and retirees. More than 60,000 military members and their families reside in Colorado and approximately 400,000 veterans call the Centennial State home. We are committed to supporting our military members and their families, both in and out of the uniform. U.S. Space Command, and the space professionals and their families that support the mission, are part of our community. They are our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We are proud to continue to be their home and hope to keep our community whole. We the undersigned strongly urge you to keep U.S. Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We are the legacy site and the only permanent home of the mission. Jared Polis Dianne Primavera Governor of Colorado Lt. Governor of Colorado Michael F. Bennet Cory Gardner Senator Senator Diana DeGette Joe Neguse Colorado 1st Congressional District Colorado 2nd Congressional District Scott Tipton Ken Buck Colorado 3rd Congressional District Colorado 4th Congressional District Doug Lamborn Jason Crow Colorado 5th Congressional District Colorado 6th Congressional District Ed Perlmutter John Hickenlooper Colorado 7th Congressional District Senator-Elect Lauren Boebert John Suthers Congresswoman-Elect Mayor, City of Colorado Springs /Cheryl Lovell/ /Leah L. Bornstein/ /Diana M. Doyle/ Dr. Cheryl Lovell Dr. Leah L. Bornstein Diana M. Doyle President, Adams State University President & CEO, Aims President, Arapahoe Community Community College College /Mike Edmonds/ /Joseph A. Garcia/ /Tim Foster/ Mike Edmonds Joseph A. Garcia Tim Foster Acting Co-President, Colorado Chancellor, Colorado Community President, Colorado Mesa College College System University /Carrie Besnette Hauser/ /Paul C. Johnson/ /Suzanne E. Acheson/ Carrie Besnette Hauser Paul C. Johnson Suzanne E. Acheson President & CEO, Colorado President, Colorado School of School Director, Colorado Skies Mountain College Mines Academy /Brett Anderson/ /Ellen Plese/ /Tony Frank/ Brett Anderson Ellen Plese Dr. Tony Frank Special Assistant to the Mechanical Engineer Manager of Chancellor, Colorado State Chancellor, Colorado State Strategic Planning & Operations, University University Colorado State University /Betsy Oudenhoven Ph.D/ /Donald Elliman/ /Vivek Choudhury/ Betsy Oudenhoven Ph.D Donald Elliman Vivek Choudhury President, Community College of Chancellor, CU Anschutz Medical Dean, Daniels College of Aurora Campus Business, University of Denver /Andrew R. Dorsey/ /Linda Lujan/ /Janine Davidson/ Andrew R. Dorsey Dr. Linda Lujan Hon. Dr. Janine Davidson President, Front Range President, Lamar Community President, Former Community College College Undersecretary of the Navy and President, Metropolitan State University of Denver /Will Simpkins/ /Curt Freed/ /Jay A. Lee/ Dr. Will Simpkins Dr. Curt Freed Jay A. Lee Vice President, Metropolitan President, Morgan Community President, Northeastern Junior State University of Denver College College /John Jay O'Rourke/ /Timothy A. Alvarez/ /Lance Bolton, Ph.D/ John Jay O'Rourke Timothy A. Alvarez Lance Bolton, Ph.D Regional Development Manager, President, Otero Junior College Bolton, Pikes Peak Community Norwich University College /Patricia A. Erjavec/ /Michele C. Haney/ /John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J./ Dr. Patricia A. Erjavec Dr. Michele C. Haney Rev. John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J. President, Pueblo Community President, Red Rocks Community President, Regis University College College /Rhonda M. Epper/ /Mark Sirangelo/ /Chance Hill/ Rhonda M. Epper Mark Sirangelo Chance Hill President, Trinidad State Junior Scholar in Residence, University CU Regent, University of College of Colorado Colorado /Michael Traxler/ /Philip DiStefano/ /Jenifer Furda/ LTC (R) Michael Traxler Philip DiStefano Jenifer Furda Director of Programs, University Chancellor, University of Director of Partnerships, of Colorado - National Security Colorado Boulder Governmental Affairs & Military Initiative Liason, University of Colorado Colorado Springs /Venkat Reddy/ /Michelle Marks/ /Mark Kennedy/ Venkat Reddy Michelle Marks Mark Kennedy Chancellor, University of Chancellor, University of President, University of Colorado Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Denver System /Jeremy Haefner/ /Andy Feinstein/ /Greg Salsbury/ Jeremy Haefner Andy Feinstein Greg Salsbury Chancellor, University of Denver President, University of Northern President, Western Colorado Colorado University /Mary Hodge/ /Steve O'Dorisio/ /Eva Henry/ Mary Hodge Steve O'Dorisio Eva Henry Commissioner, Adams County Commissioner, Adams County Commissioner, Adams County /Emma Pinter/ /Charles "Chaz" Tedesco/ /Bill Holen/ Emma Pinter Charles "Chaz" Tedesco Bill Holen Commissioner & Chairman, Commissioner, Adams County, Commissioner, Arapahoe County Adams County District 2 /Deb Gardner/ /Carlos Garcia/ /Randy Wheelock/ Deb Gardner Carlos Garcia Randy Wheelock Commissioner, Boulder County Commissioner, Conejos County Commissioner, Counties & Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT) /Lora L. Thomas/ /Kathy Chandler-Henry/ /Jeanne McQueeney/ Lora L. Thomas Kathy Chandler-Henry Jeanne McQueeney Commissioner, Douglas County Commissioner & Chairman, Eagle Commissioner, Eagle County County /Matt Scherr/ /Cami Bremer/ /Stan L. VanderWerf/ Matt Scherr Cami Bremer Stan L. VanderWerf Commissioner, Eagle County Commissioner, El Paso County Commissioner, El Paso County Government /Holly Williams/ /Longinos Gonzalez, Jr/ /Chris Richardson/ Hon. Holly Williams Longinos Gonzalez, Jr Chris Richardson Commissioner, El Paso County Commissioner, El Paso County, Commissioner, Elbert County District 4 Government /Debbie Bell/ /Richard D. Cimino/ /Kristine Borchers/ Debbie Bell Richard D. Cimino Kristine Borchers Commissioner, Fremont County Commissioner, Grand County, Commissioner, Hinsdale County District 1 /Sara Gutterman/ /Lesley Dahlkemper/ /Gwen Lachelt/ Sara Gutterman Lesley Dahlkemper Gwen Lachelt Commissioner, Hinsdale County Commissioner, Jefferson County Commissioner, La Plata County /Tony Hass/ /Felix M. Lopez/ /Joseph A. McBride/ Tony Hass Felix M. Lopez Joseph A. McBride Commissioner, Las Animas County Commissioner, Las Animas County Commissioner, Logan County /Jon Becker/ /Keith Goodwin/ /Terry Hofmeister/ Jon Becker Keith Goodwin Terry Hofmeister Commissioner, Morgan County Commissioner, Otero County Commissioner & Chairman, Phillips County /Steve Child/ /Hilary Cooper/ /Thomas C. Davidson/ Steve Child Hilary Cooper Hon. Thomas C. Davidson Commissioner, Pitkin County Commissioner, San Miguel County Commissioner, Summit County /Elisabeth Lawrence/ /Karn Stiegelmeier/ /Tony N. Wells/ Elisabeth Lawrence Karn Stiegelmeier Tony N. Wells Commissioner, Summit County Commissioner, Summit County Commissioner, Washington County /Trent Bushner/ /George Peck/ /Junie Joseph/ Trent Bushner George Peck Junie Joseph Commissioner, Yuma County Member, Aurora Chamber of Mayor Pro Tem, Boulder City Commerce Council /Mark Humbert/ /Deven Shaff/ /Tom Strand/ Mark Humbert Deven Shaff Tom Strand Council Member, Brighton City Council Member, City and County President Pro Tem, City Council Council, Ward 4 of Broomfield /Marc Williams/ /Francoise Bergan/ /Mike Coffman/ Marc Williams Francoise Bergan Mike Coffman Mayor, City of Arvada Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Mayor, City of Aurora Aurora /Dave Gruber/ /Alison Coombs/ /Rachel Friend/ Dave Gruber Alison