The Move places a major Pentagon contracting and infrastructure function in the heart of America’s aerospace and defense ecosystem, expanding regional company access to contract, Funding

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (August 20, 2026) – Colorado Springs, America’s Rocky Mountain aerospace and defense hub, is now home to the office that controls $4 billion in Space Force infrastructure contracts, putting federal decision-makers within reach of the companies that compete for their business. The office, one of the Pentagon’s Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAE), is relocating from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs’ Peterson Space Force Base, the long-time headquarters of the United States Space Force Combat Forces Command. This move will make Colorado Springs one of the few locations in the nation where industry, acquisition leaders and operational users can work more closely to accelerate the delivery of critical space and defense capabilities.

Traditionally, defense contracts have moved through multiple stages of review, coordination and approval before contracts can be awarded. This process can take months, if not longer, to clear, delaying critical projects along the way. Now, businesses within the region, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, will be closer to acquisition decision-makers shaping the United States’ next wave of contracts and funding. 

The impetus for the new Colorado Springs PAE was the 2026 overhaul of Space Force’s acquisition system, designed to significantly reduce layers of review that have historically slowed down the process. Now, each PAE is empowered with broad authority over its mission portfolio, including responsibility for the vast majority of contracting decisions – approximately 90% to 92% of contracting authority – within its area.

In Colorado Springs, the new Infrastructure PAE will oversee a broad portfolio supporting the U.S. Space Force’s infrastructure mission. This includes test and training environments, mission support capabilities and facilities that enable the development, evaluation and fielding of advanced space systems.

As businesses weigh new locations to relocate or expand to, being close to this authority now carries specific, practical advantages:

• Proximity to acquisition leadership and mission stakeholders. Companies operating in the region are closer to the decision-makers responsible for contracting, requirements, acquisition planning and capability delivery, creating opportunities for more frequent engagement through established government-industry channels.
• Access to a nationally significant aerospace and defense ecosystem. Colorado Springs is home to five major military installations, leading defense contractors, and specialized space operations, as well as testing, training and warfighting facilities. The region’s concentration of government, industry and research organizations supports collaboration across the defense innovation base. All of this enables more efficient collaboration between the PAE, military bases and local companies, setting the stage to bring technology to the field in record time.
• Presence in a region with infrastructure purpose-built for aerospace and defense. Colorado Springs is home to Peak Innovation Park, a 1,600-acre master-planned business park that includes major tenants, such as The Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman and Amazon. The Park features a combination of aerospace and defense tenants, available sites, airport access, utility infrastructure and proximity to military installations. The region also features direct air access, interstate connectivity and secure facilities. Making it an attractive location for companies supporting advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, cybersecurity and national security missions.
• A deep national security workforce. Colorado Springs benefits from a unique talent ecosystem shaped by decades of military and space operations. The region’s veteran community (52,000+), active-duty population, engineers and technology professionals bring direct experience in space, cyber, intelligence, missile defense and homeland security missions, providing aerospace and defense companies with access to a workforce uniquely aligned with national security requirements.

“Major defense programs increasingly depend on close coordination between operators, acquisition leaders, and industry,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “The decision to locate the Infrastructure PAE in Colorado Springs recognizes the unique concentration of military space operations, defense contractors, and technical expertise already present in the region. Few places in the country bring together the people who define requirements, acquire capabilities, and employ them in mission environments. That makes Colorado Springs a strategic location for the future of national security innovation.”

Companies evaluating where to locate space infrastructure, simulation or defense technology operations can review additional site data, workforce statistics and incentive programs through the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC’s site selector resources here.