Space Command is fully operational, if still officially homeless

The Pentagon’s newest warfighting command has achieved full operational capability, despite continued wrangling over where to put a permanent headquarters for U.S. Space Command. 

“Since its establishment in 2019, USSPACECOM has been singularly focused on delivering exquisite capability to the joint force to deter conflict, defend our vital interests, and, if necessary, defeat aggression. Thanks to the disciplined initiative of our people and the support of our joint, combined and partnered team, I can confidently say we have reached full operational capability,” Gen. James Dickinson, head of SPACECOM, said in a statement Friday. 

The Pentagon uses “full operational capability” to describe an organization that has proved, through tests and real-world scenarios, it can accomplish all aspects of its missions. 

Space Command, which has called Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado home ever since its formation during the Trump administration, has been tangled in a years-long, highly political debate over its potential move to Alabama. 

Lawmakers, who rehashed the Alabama-versus-Colorado debate this September, included language in the compromise version of the 2024 defense policy bill that would prevent the command from building a headquarters until two government watchdog agencies finish investigating the Biden administration’s reversal of the Trump administration recommendation.

Air Force officials have previously told lawmakers that staying in Colorado would reduce operational risk and prevent losing many of its civilian workers, who make up 60 percent of its workforce.

In his statement, Dickinson said the declaration of full operating capability reflects certain criteria, including: 

• “Accomplishing the Unified Command Plan mission alongside global campaigning, exercising, and responding to crises;
• Having the right numbers of skills across the human capital;
• Having the infrastructure needed to support command and control across mission and business functions;
• Having the necessary command processes and functions in place;
• Being able to set the conditions and requirements for the future fight.”

The command also completed the first “operational plan for space” and held its first joint tier-1 exercise with Indo-Pacific Command, “which served as a major step in validating the headquarters staff as a ready, joint force,” according to the Friday statement.

Space Command, the Pentagon’s 11th combatant command, reached initial operating capability two years ago.