The U.S. Space Force has relocated its Infrastructure Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) to Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, placing oversight of a US$4 billion infrastructure portfolio at the heart of one of the nation's largest military and space industry hubs. The move follows a major overhaul of the Space Force's acquisition system in 2026, giving Portfolio Acquisition Executives greater authority to accelerate contracting and infrastructure delivery. Under the new model, PAEs now oversee roughly 90% to 92% of contracting decisions within their respective portfolios, reducing layers of bureaucracy and speeding up project delivery. The Infrastructure PAE, which officially assumed responsibility for the portfolio earlier this month, oversees investments supporting the Space Force's test and training environments, mission support capabilities and facilities required to develop, evaluate and deploy next-generation space systems. The office's relocation from Los Angeles places acquisition leadership closer to key Space Force installations in the Colorado Springs region, including Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station. The move also comes as the Space Force continues to expand its footprint in Colorado. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Defense announced plans for a US$250 million Space Force Operations Facility at Schriever Space Force Base, a project expected to support approximately 2,500 civilian jobs once operational. Colorado Springs is widely recognised as one of the country's leading aerospace and defence clusters, home to more than 250 aerospace and defence companies, multiple military commands and a highly specialised workforce supporting national …
The U.S. Space Force has relocated its Infrastructure Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) to Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, placing oversight of a US$4 billion infrastructure portfolio at the heart of one of the nation’s largest military and space industry hubs.
The move follows a major overhaul of the Space Force’s acquisition system in 2026, giving Portfolio Acquisition Executives greater authority to accelerate contracting and infrastructure delivery. Under the new model, PAEs now oversee roughly 90% to 92% of contracting decisions within their respective portfolios, reducing layers of bureaucracy and speeding up project delivery.
The Infrastructure PAE, which officially assumed responsibility for the portfolio earlier this month, oversees investments supporting the Space Force’s test and training environments, mission support capabilities and facilities required to develop, evaluate and deploy next-generation space systems.
The office’s relocation from Los Angeles places acquisition leadership closer to key Space Force installations in the Colorado Springs region, including Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station.
The move also comes as the Space Force continues to expand its footprint in Colorado. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Defense announced plans for a US$250 million Space Force Operations Facility at Schriever Space Force Base, a project expected to support approximately 2,500 civilian jobs once operational.
Colorado Springs is widely recognised as one of the country’s leading aerospace and defence clusters, home to more than 250 aerospace and defence companies, multiple military commands and a highly specialised workforce supporting national security and space innovation.
“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 recognises 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.”
