October 5, 2026 — El Paso County leaders, including Chair Carrie Geitner and Vice Chair Lauren Nelson, collaborated with officials from Colorado Springs and Huntsville to discuss the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters and the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. They emphasized the synergy between Huntsville’s missile defense expertise and El Paso County’s space operations, aiming to enhance missile warning, tracking, command, and control capabilities.
Golden Dome is a proposed layered homeland defense system designed to combat ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats, stemming from a January 2025 executive order for a new missile defense shield.
Huntsville boasts significant defense assets, such as Redstone Arsenal, while El Paso County is home to several military establishments, including Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Geitner congratulated Huntsville on winning the Space Command headquarters, reaffirming El Paso County’s commitment to national security priorities under President Trump. She criticized ongoing lawsuits against the decision as counterproductive.
El Paso County aims to leverage its skilled workforce and strong defense industry, highlighted by Congressman Jeff Crank’s contributions. Chip Cherry, President and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, stressed the importance of collaboration between the two regions in enhancing national defense.
Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, praised the partnership between Colorado Springs and Huntsville, expressing optimism for continued cooperation in addressing defense challenges in space.
Geitner concluded by affirming El Paso County’s commitment to support defense missions alongside Huntsville, focused on collaboration and national interests.
For more information, visit www.ElPasoCo.com.
