STARCOM expands footprint with new annex at Patrick Space Force Base

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

April 1, 2026

The Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) opened a new headquarters annex at Patrick Space Force Base on March 10, as part of its ongoing relocation and expansion on Florida’s Space Coast.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening, with attendance from military personnel, local officials, industry representatives and members of STARCOM and Space Launch Delta 45. The facility is intended to bring together personnel who had been working in separate locations across the base.

“This is a symbol of momentum as we move in,” said Maj. Gen. James E. Smith, commander of STARCOM. “We now have a place we can call home. It’s going to enable us to continue to get after our mission.”

STARCOM is one of the U.S. Space Force’s field commands and is responsible for training and preparing Guardians — the service’s military and civilian workforce — across their careers. Its scope includes initial entry training, advanced education, operational testing and wargaming, supporting a force of about 14,000 personnel.

The command is organized into subordinate units, known as deltas, which focus on specific functions within the training and readiness structure. These units collectively support the development and evaluation of personnel and systems associated with space operations.

The annex project cost $28 million and includes office space, parking and related infrastructure. As of the opening, approximately 142 personnel are assigned to the facility, with additional workspace available to accommodate future staffing increases and the relocation of personnel from Colorado.

STARCOM relocated its headquarters to Patrick Space Force Base in July 2025. The addition of the annex increases available workspace as the command continues shifting personnel and functions to the installation.

The expansion reflects a broader effort by the Space Force to position key training and readiness functions closer to operational units located along the Space Coast.

Locating personnel at Patrick Space Force Base places STARCOM in proximity to launch operations and other space-related activities, which can influence how training requirements are developed and assessed. The added capacity also supports long-term organizational changes as the command continues to mature and define its role within the service’s structure.