Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal praised in the inclusion of Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB) on the list of bases under consideration for the permanent location for the U.S. Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM).

The candidate location list was announced by the Department of the Air Force yesterday evening.

“As I’ve made repeatedly clear to the Pentagon, the Central Coast is already home to the premiere west coast launch site for military, civil, and commercial space operations, and currently is a cornerstone of our nation’s space training and operations,” said Rep. Carbajal. “In the search for a permanent location for Space Training and Readiness Command, Vandenberg has already demonstrated its ability to train space operators and serve a critical testing site. And in addition, its proximity to some of our country’s finest research institutions and aerospace industry make it the best candidate for STARCOM. I’ve advocated for Vandenberg both because of the innovation it will foster in our own backyard, but also for the jobs and economic opportunities it will create for our communities. I am pleased to see it is under consideration for selection, and look forward to continuing to engage with the Department as they begin the next phase of their assessments.”

Congressman Carbajal has consistently promoted Vandenberg as an ideal location for STARCOM since its activation in 2021.

Using his role as Vice Chair for the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which has jurisdiction over Department of Defense space programs and long-range missile defense systems, Carbajal has lauded Vandenberg’s candidacy to both U.S. military leaders and Pentagon officials.

In September, Congressman Carbajal joined California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla in expressing support for making Vandenberg Space Force Base the permanent location for the STARCOM.

Their letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall can be found here.

Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th congressional district, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and part of Ventura County. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee, Agriculture Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.