In a public update for Veterans Day, the US Space Command commander indicated that the “Octagon” facility in northern Alabama would be completed by 2031–2032.

To mark Veterans Day on Wednesday, General Stephen Whiting, commander of the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), made a visit to Huntsville, Alabama, which will host the future headquarters of the unified combatant command of the US Department of Defense responsible for military operations in outer space.

Whiting told local officials that the move to “Rocket City” would take place approximately six weeks ahead of schedule, and there were now more than 200 personnel working at the Redstone Arsenal. Some of those individuals have transferred from Colorado Springs, Colorado, the base’s current location. Others have been hired locally.

That tranche of manpower is merely a fraction of the expected 1,800 permanent personnel—including US military servicemembers and civilian employees—that make up the total workforce once the purpose-built headquarters is completed by late 2031 or early 2032.

Plans remain on track for the command to have 900 personnel at the Redstone Arsenal by 2028, but Whiting also acknowledged he would not be one of them. He announced his plans to retire in January 2027, passing on his responsibilities to Lt. Gen. David Miller, who had already secured approval as his successor.

The Pentagon Is Getting an ‘Octagon’ in Alabama

The personnel already at the Redstone Arsenal are now working out of temporary facilities. However, in September, the US Space Command moved forward on its future permanent HQ with an $85 million agreement aimed at ensuring it remains on an accelerated schedule.

Conceptual renderings unveiled earlier this year highlighted a distinctive octagonal central hub to the base, intended to house a purpose-built joint operations center, multiple government agencies, military branches, and international allies under one roof. The striking eight-sided building is designed to support the heavy technical infrastructure needed to process real-time space domain data and manage multi-domain operations globally.

The geometric layout helps accommodate the secure, compartmentalized environments required for sensitive defense missions.

Although Whiting is set to retire, he remains confident that the progress will continue with subsequent commanders.

“I really will be excited when we get to the groundbreaking next year for the permanent facility,” Whiting said in his remarks. “When that facility starts to get built, that’s going to be really exciting because that’s the real opportunity for US Space Command, not only to join this wonderful community, but to get that permanent headquarters we’ve never had, which will just enable us to do our mission even better.”

The new building will also be able to house all 1,800 personnel in a single location, unlike the current HQ, which is spread across four buildings at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Once we’re in that facility, we’ll all be co-located to execute our primary duties of protecting and defending American interests in space,” Whiting said. “And that means doing military planning or military contingencies, any kind of contingency you could imagine in space, as well as executing command and control of all the joint forces.”

Colorado Has Failed to Block USSPACECOM’s Move

Gen. Whiting also announced that the issue of the future US Space Command headquarters is finally settled, after years of back and forth. It was during the first Trump administration, in August 2019, that USSPACECOM was reestablished as the 11th unified command, 17 years after it was disbanded in 2002. Its focus was on protecting US space assets, countering adversary anti-satellite capabilities, and integrating space operations across all military branches. The command was initially stationed at Peterson Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado, which was subsequently redesignated Peterson Space Force Base following the creation of the United States Space Force, the sixth and newest branch of the United States Armed Forces.

In the final days of his first administration, President Donald Trump directed that the permanent headquarters be moved to Huntsville, Alabama, a decision later reversed by the Biden administration in 2023. Then, in September 2025, in his second administration, Trump announced that USSPACECOM would move to the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

Colorado officials soon filed suit to keep the base, claiming that the move amounted to unconstitutional political retaliation. (Trump lost Colorado in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and has dubiously alleged that the state’s mail-in voting system is rigged against him.) However, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Alabama leaders championed Huntsville’s existing aerospace infrastructure and cost savings.

Even though Democrats retook both houses of Congress in a “blue wave” midterm election last week, it is unlikely that the USSPACECOM HQ relocation will be changed again.

“National security has traditionally been very bipartisan,” Whiting told AL.com during the Wednesday news conference. “We look forward to working with Congress to secure those resources that we need.”

Last month, officials in Colorado Springs and Huntsville each announced an intention to move forward, collaborating on shared national security initiatives, including the “Golden Dome” homeland missile defense effort. Even as the USSPACECOM HQ will depart from Colorado, Colorado Springs will remain a major space and military hub, home to Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, and the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, which houses critical operations for NORAD, USNORTHCOM, and space surveillance. In addition, the United States Air Force Academy is located in the city, training the next generation of military leaders.

Although many Space Command personnel may have deep roots in Colorado Springs, 18 representatives from Huntsville traveled to discuss the forthcoming transition, addressing issues from local schools to health care, and other opportunities in the Tennessee Valley. Some personnel will also be able to remain in Colorado and still serve the command, but Huntsville is making sure it is opening its arms for those who will make the move in the coming years.

“My takeaway is that the people of Huntsville, North Alabama, and the Tennessee Valley region are incredibly welcoming,” Whiting said.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. He has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism, including Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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