Air Force officials here announced Jan. 21 the possible locations for the eventual permanent home for the headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command.
Earlier this month, Air Force officials had announced the formal stand up of the Air Force Global Strike Command (Provisional).
The provisional command is located at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., and is responsible for all the activity supporting the establishment of the permanent Global Strike Command at one of six possible bases.
The candidate bases for the permanent AFGSC, in alphabetical order, are Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Minot AFB, N.D.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo.
Kevin Billings, the acting secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, said that every basing decision is made using a measured and deliberate process to ensure that the final decision is the best possible outcome for national defense and is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Current performance of a significant operational function associated with strategic nuclear forces is an overarching requirement for selecting the AFGSC headquarters base. Due to the uniqueness of the nuclear operations culture and the significant time required to develop personnel, processes and systems to create an operational environment which safely and reliably meets the extraordinary levels of precision engendered by such operations, all candidate bases must meet this overarching requirement.
"The principal focus of the new command will be on our nuclear deterrence mission and ensuring the day-to-day excellence demanded by this mission," said Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration. "Co-locating the headquarters on an installation where there are significant operational functions associated with nuclear forces will provide positive synergies for this new command."
Air Force officials will now evaluate each of the six bases against the same set of criteria. The criteria include synergy with the AFGSC nuclear mission including availability of requisite expertise, facilities and infrastructure, support capacity, transportation and access, communications and bandwidth, and security to support the AFGSC headquarters.
The Air Force intends to make a final selection no later than the end of June 2009.