GOvERNOR GREG ABBOTT

June 24. 2020

The Honorable John Henderson

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330-1670

Dear Secretary I lenderson:

Thank you for considering Texas as the location for the headquarters of the critical U.S. Space
Command. Three Texas cities—Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio—have self-nominated to
be the location for the headquarters. All of these cities meet the required screening criteria, and I
strongly endorse all of them.

There is no place more supportive of military missions, and no place more welcoming to our
service members and their families, than the State of Texas. We also have the resources,
universities, and human capital necessary to support something as important to the nation’s
future as Space Command.

Texas has supported the defense, aerospace, and aviation industries for decades, and two of our
most active and growing industry sectors are cyber-security and defense technologies. The Texan
entrepreneurial spirit and our innovative research universities contributed to the state’s recent
selection as the home of the new Army Futures Command. We would happily welcome Space
Command as well.

Though we can never fully repay our debt to those who risk all to defend our freedoms, in Texas
we are committed to serving those who serve. We have invested new funding in transition skills
training, accelerated degree programs, and employment placement programs for veterans and
transitioning service members and their families. In 2019, I signed the following into law:

• Texas Senate Bill 1200 allows a military spouse with an occupational license from
another state to practice that occupation in Texas for up to three years without a
Texas license if the licensing requirements are substantially equivalent to Texas
requirements.
• Texas House Bill 2214 facilitates the efficient issuance of occupational licenses to
military members, spouses, and veterans.

PosT OFFICE Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VoICE) DIAL 7-1-1 FoR RELAY SERvICEs
The Honorable John Henderson
June 24, 2020
Page 2

• Texas House Bill 1597 established residency for military-connected children to enroll
in public schools as soon as their parent or guardian receives Permanent Change of
Station orders.

Our state also has a legacy of command and control of human mission space flight operations,
including the International Space Station, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. SpaceX has also
built a launch facility on the Texas coast and an engine testing and processing facility in central
Texas. We also host numerous other companies in the defense and space industries, including
Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies. Texas also has
public and private universities with robust space and technology research capabilities. We have
an excellent quality of life and a low cost of living, which have helped develop an immediately-
accessible workforce of qualified and highly-educated employees who can get Space Command
headquarters up and running as quickly as possible.

As governor of this great state, I am proud of our unwavering support for the 15 major military
installations and the headquarters of Army Futures Command that are so essential to our nation’s
defense. These military installations and the men and women who serve at them are an integral
part of the Texas community. Over the last five years, my Texas Military Preparedness
Commission has awarded over $66 million in grants for infrastructure projects to ensure these
installations continue to add unmatched military value. The commission has another $16 million
in grants to award in 2021.

As a Texan, I am proud that the tradition of military service runs deep in the Lone Star State. In
addition to active duty personnel, Texas is home to 1.6 million veterans and their families
including my brother, a retired Commander who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy.

You will not find a better location for the headquarters for U.S. Space Command than in Texas.
Thank you again for considering Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio as potential locations for
the U.S. Space Command headquarters. My office stands ready to provide any additional
information you need. The point of contact for my Texas Military Preparedness Commission is
Keith Graf. He may be reached at kcith.gra gQyxag, or phone at 512-475-0487.

Sincerely,

Greg Abbott
Governor

GA:kgk

cc: The Honorable Barbara M. Barrett

General John W. Raymond
 CITY OF SAN ANToNIO
RON NIRENBERG
MAYOR

The Honorable John Henderson June 9, 2020

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

Subject: United States Space Command Basing Nomination

Dear Secretary Henderson,

On behalf of the people of San Antonio, Texas, I am submitting our nomination for consideration to host the Headquarters
for United States Space Command (USSPACECOM). After careful review of the screening and evaluation criteria, our
community meets all minimum eligibility requirements and would earn a competitive score when assessed against the
evaluation criteria.

San Antonio is the 24th MSA with a population of 2.5 million residents. Our diverse population and exceptional quality of
life will provide HQ USSPACECOM with a large pool of highly skilled workforce consisting of transitioning military personnel,
veterans, and their spouses. San Antonio has the largest presence of cyber and intelligence capabilities outside the National
Capital Region capabilities needed to accomplish the USSPACECOM mission. In addition, the talented Military City USA’TM
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workforce includes those currently working in direct support of space research/development and operations. With four major
installations, we are host to the largest joint base in the DoD Joint Base San Antonio all well within 25 miles of the City.
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Finally, we meet the MRP livability index requirement with a score of 50 points.

My direct point of contact for this action is MajGen Juan G. Ayala (USMC, Ret), Director, Office of Military and Veteran
Affairs, City of San Antonio and can be reached at 915-801-4995 juan.ayala@sanantonio.ov

Sincerely

I hereby endorse the nomination from Mayor Ron Nirenberg of San Antonio, Texas to host the Headquarters for United States
Space Command.

Sinc ly,

Texas

P.O. Box 839966 • SAN ANTONIO, TX 78283-3966 • TEL: 210-207-7107 • FAX 210-207-4168
MAYORRONNIRENBERG@SANANTONIO.GOV