The United States Space Force confirmed this week its plans to install a headquarters for its new “cyber warfare” division. Some locals within the San Antonio metropolitan area are already seeking that division to be established in that city.
San Antonio, known as Military City USA and Cyber City USA, seems like a natural location for the new organization.
However, the military placement process is slow and is often especially complicated by special interests and political reasons.
An example is the fact that much of the growth in the south of the area will be supported by members of the military, who are exempt from many taxes and also receive preferential treatment, something that the authorities will surely analyze from several points.
The city learned this the hard way when it failed to attract Space Command two years ago. But despite that setback, some promoters are ready to try again.
What is the US Space Force?
The Space Force, which has about 9,000 military members and 5,000 civilians, is the country's newest and smallest military service.
Established in late 2019 as part of the Department of the Air Force, its mission is to secure space. As it grows, it continues to launch units linked to the nation's combat commands, similar to other services.
Among these new components is the division of Cyberwarsaid Air Force Maj. Vicky Porto, a Space Force spokesperson.
“The Space Force intends to establish service components for all combatant commands, including CYBERCOM. Initial analysis of the mission is ongoing, but the date for that establishment has not yet been determined,” he stated.
Why is San Antonio, Texas a good place for the cybersecurity division?
For his part, Jim Perschbach, executive director of Port San Antonio, noted that the 16th Air Force, the main cybersecurity unit known as Air Forces Cyber, is already at JBSA-Lackland, making San Antonio a natural home for the future Space Force cyber organization.
He and other political and economic development leaders are working to build a new campus for the 16th in Port San Antonio.
Perschbach indicated that attracting Space Force Cyber would add to the mix of national security, cyber, aerospace, robotics, space, business and academic entities already present on campus.
Cyber work requires collaboration between various services, so some facilities could host joint operations in addition to individual ones.
“Proximity to both other service components and the academic, research, commercial and business ecosystem would add value for everyone,” Perschbach said.
Port officials are in regular talks with the Air Force and Space Force, and the military has been “very open to innovative ideas” that provide efficiencies and help the United States measure up against adversaries like China and Russia.
Although Perschbach believes Space Force Cyber could land at the port, he does not guarantee that it will necessarily be located next to future Air Force Cyber. If not, there could be some overlap.
The city is focused on its value proposition, highlighting how the integration of talent and technology can improve national security.
