The event, held on 12 December, confirmed that SPACECOM will move from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado to Redstone Arsenal, near Huntsville, with plans unveiled for the construction of a new permanent headquarters on the site.
Speaking ahead of the unveiling of signage marking the future headquarters, Hegseth said the decision to relocate the command was the right one and had been strongly supported within the administration.
“Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made the right call in recommending to me – and to President Donald J. Trump – that this is the place to continue establishing space dominance, right here in Alabama,” Hegseth said.
The move has also been backed by previous Air Force secretaries, according to Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, who represents Alabama’s 3rd District and also addressed the ceremony.
Hegseth said the Trump administration’s defence priorities – including peace through strength and an “America first” approach – were underpinned by what he described as common sense decision making.
“It’s common sense that this is exactly where Space Command should be. It’s common sense that we need to move quickly and decisively – and we will,” he said.
He pledged to cut through bureaucracy to fast-track the establishment of the headquarters, saying the department was “deadly serious” about accelerating construction and operational readiness.
Hegseth stressed the ceremony was not merely symbolic, but a signal that work needed to begin immediately to ensure the command was fully staffed and equipped as soon as possible.
“Once it was ‘he who controls the skies’. Now it’s ‘he who controls the space domain’ who understands what future warfare looks like – and who holds that dominance,” he said.
“That’s why I’m here. The faster we establish this headquarters and build up its capabilities, the more likely we are to deter the next conflict – and, if required, be ready to overwhelmingly defeat our enemies.”
President Donald Trump formally announced the relocation of SPACECOM to Alabama on 2 September.
US Space Command is one of the US military’s 11 unified combatant commands. It was first established in September 1985, before being disbanded in October 2002, with its responsibilities transferred to US Strategic Command.
The command was re-established by President Trump in August 2019 during his first term in office.