HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (EETV) – Deputy Garrison Commander Martin Traylor spoke on the United States Space Command’s move to Huntsville’s own Redstone Army Base on Thursday, Oct. 2.
Escorted by Auburn School of Communication and Journalism alumn Skip Vaughn, class of 1976, Eagle Eye was able to meet with Mr. Traylor despite the government shutdown, which furloughed all but essential workers at the base.
Traylor illustrated the process by which Huntsville was chosen as the top location for the move, emphasizing the city’s affordability, proximity to other major cities and temperate weather, a critical component for rocket launches.
“When they graded all that out, Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville graded out number one [...] I would argue with anybody anywhere that it’s hard to beat Huntsville,” said Traylor, regarding how the city placed among six alternatives.
Redstone, a $36 billion economy thanks to the nearly 50,000 workers it currently employs and contractors like Northrop Grumman, will only continue to grow Alabama’s economy.
“From Monday through Friday, Redstone is the 11th largest city in Alabama [...] we also at Redstone have the 111th largest economy in the world–we are a 36 billion dollar impact,” said Traylor on Redstone’s vast influence.
A complex, militarized process, the move will occur in steps over months and years, according to Traylor.
This way of movement both reduces the impact on Huntsville and eliminates any time where Space Command would be out of operation.
