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Central Florida chosen as preferred location for space training command

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The preferred location for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command is in Central Florida, the U.S. Air Force Secretary announced.

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The state has been pushing hard to land Starcom Headquarters.

A final announcement is expected this fall.

Starcom is short for “Space Training Readiness Command.”

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The U.S. Space Force is the newest branch of the Armed Forces, and thousands will need to be trained on an ongoing basis.

Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott, along with members of congress, sent a letter to the secretary of the U.S. Air Force highlighting Florida’s history of spaceflight, its three combatant commands and 21 installations.

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“We have both the operational knowledge and culture that is here that’s essential for space operations and training of the guardians, who are really going to be working in a contested and very congested space race in the future,” Space Florida President and CEO Frank Dibello said.

In an email statement, Rubio said “Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral SFS hold an important plae in America’s storied history in space. I am thrilled that Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral SFS have been chosen as the preferred candidate for the headquarters of Starcom. This is a major victory for Florida, and I am very confident that Starcom will be a great success in my home state.”

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.