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The state of Colorado held a “handing over” ceremony on Jan. 11, transferring a 640-acre parcel of state trust land to senior military leaders from Schriever Space Force Base.
The Department of Defense had leased Patent 8583 since 1982 as part of its original plan to build the base.
Air Force officials and Gov. Jared Polis had determined that transferring the parcel to the DOD would best serve national security interests, according to a press release.
“Colorado is proud of our strong military heritage and the role we play in critical national security missions,” said Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, who is co-chair of the Colorado Space Coalition, in the release.
“Given the critically important nature of the mission at Schriever Space Force Base, it’s imperative that the Department of Defense has full control over lands that house mission-critical military infrastructure,” said Primavera. “This land transfer is another example of how the State of Colorado is working to be the best home to our military members and key missions.”
Primavera, who is national chair of the Aerospace States Association, has worked to grow Colorado’s aerospace industry — the country’s second-largest aerospace economy, according to the release — to enhance the state’s role in national security.
The aerospace industry directly or indirectly employs more than 274,000 people in Colorado across national security, commercial and civil space sectors, according to the release.
The patent was presented to Col. David Hanson, commander of Schriever Space Force Base, at the Colorado State Land Board’s public board meeting in Denver.