What We Did:
The objective of this evaluation is to review the basis for selecting Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred permanent location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters.
What We Found:
We found that the process Air Force officials used to select Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred permanent location for the U.S. Space Command headquarters (USSPACECOM HQ) complied with law and policy, and was reasonable in identifying Huntsville as the preferred permanent location.
We determined that, overall, the basing action process directed by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) complied with Federal law and DoD policy, and the Air Force complied with the SECDEF’s requirements for the basing action, though the Basing Office personnel did not fully comply with Air Force records retention requirements. We found that Basing Office personnel developed relevant and objective evaluation factors and associated criteria to assess, score, and rank candidate locations. In addition, the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Energy, Installations, and Environment and Basing Office personnel sought input from stakeholders, including USSPACECOM officials.
Of the 21 associated criteria Basing Office officials used in the process, we determined that 10 criteria were reasonable and accurate because either the Basing Office personnel or subject matter experts (SMEs) generally had the supporting documentation, or we were able to verify the information using publicly available data. In addition, eight criteria were reasonable based on extensive discussions with the Basing Office personnel and SMEs; however, we could not fully verify the accuracy of those rankings due to the lack of supporting documentation. In addition, for three criteria, we could not determine reasonableness or accuracy of the ranking because either the Basing Office personnel or SME were not available to discuss them or there was no supporting documentation. However, the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) placed less importance on these three criteria in selecting the host location for USSPACECOM HQ.
What We Recommend:
First, we recommend that the Secretary of Defense establish policy and procedures for implementing basing actions of a unified combatant command. As discussed in the Recommendations, Management Comments, and Our Response section of this report, this recommendation remains unresolved.
Second, we recommend that the Secretary of Defense should review the concerns expressed by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United States Space Force Chief of Space Operations, and the Commander of United States Space Command pertaining to the “Full Operational Capability” of the United States Space Command discussed in this report. As discussed in the Recommendations, Management Comments, and Our Response section of this report, we consider this recommendation resolved and open.
Third, we recommend that the Secretary of the Air Force consider issuing a memorandum to the Basing Office emphasizing the requirement that Basing Office personnel retain all records of basing actions in accordance with Air Force Instruction 33 322. As discussed in the Recommendations, Management Comments, and Our Response section of this report, we consider this recommendation resolved and open.
Finally, we recommend that the Secretary of the Air Force review the Air Force Basing Office’s analysis of the criteria of “Childcare,” “Housing Affordability,” and “Access to Military/ Veteran Support” to verify that the United States Space Command Headquarters basing decision was supported.