C & # 39; is Official: Austin Lands Command of the US Army New Futures

AUSTIN, TX – Austin was chosen to house the new command of the US military, confirmed the official.

Bloomberg Business News has announced the news of the selection of Austin to host the military function to modernize the army. According to Thursday's report, Austin emerged as the winning city to land the function of a list of five finalist municipalities – reduced after a list of 150 cities – that were trying to lure the operation. The ambitious new military function for military modernization techniques will be led by a four-star general and will employ some 500 military personnel.

On Friday morning, US Army officials confirmed the news in a televised news conference. "The Army chose Austin as AFC headquarters headquarters because it possessed not only the talent, the entrepreneurial spirit and the access to the partners. keys that we seek, but also because it offers the desired quality of life and a cost of living. The Minister of the Army, Mark T. Esper, said at the press conference.

"The creation of Army Command of the Future is the best example of our commitment to future force readiness and lethality," Esper said. "Army Futures Command will help realize the Army's vision by addressing the major shortcomings of the current acquisition system, providing command unity, effort and purpose to any modernization company."

In addition, Governor Greg Abbott scheduled at 4 pm A press conference was held at the downtown Chamber of Commerce office on Friday, officially announcing the arrival of the Futures Command in Austin, according to a press release. The governor should be joined by Charisse Bodisch, senior vice president / economic development of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; Lieutenant-General Eric Wesley, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the US Army; Josh Baer, ​​founder / CEO of Capital Factory; "This is a major victory for the mega-region of Austin," said Phil Wilson, president of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. "This reinforces our unique combination of resources – a deep talent base, innovative thinkers and a high quality of life – that make the region so attractive. We look forward to helping to make the Austin area the Command of the United States." Army's future innovation on the battlefield under a new four-star general. "

Austin Mayor Steve Adler added his voice in expressing the excitement elicited by the news: "It's exciting that Austin was chosen as the home of the new command of the future of the army, Adler said in a prepared statement. "Innovation and creativity intersect each day with more and more industries, and this is happening more and more in Austin, an international capital of innovation. This announcement is excellent for our economy and presents countless opportunities for collaboration with our dynamic and thriving technology industry.

In April, military authorities said they narrowed the list of finalists for the seat at five cities other than Austin, including Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Raleigh, NC Other cities previously considered include Atlanta , Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle, according to Defense News. In June, a military team visited the city to examine its landscape, talk to municipal leaders and determine the potential space for rent that would house the function.

Bloomberg was the first to report on Austin's selection via a Thursday tweet: "Pack your defense bags, we're going to Austin!" a Bloomberg reporter tweeted. "It looks like the Texans are going to welcome the new army command of the future."

In a prepared statement reacting to the news on Thursday, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat whose district includes Austin, noted that the city is a good fit for the command of the future of the military: "Austin fits the mission as a city of innovation – a community that encourages creativity, entrepreneurship and diversity.We will now play a leading role in ensuring our national security. "

Friday, d & # 39; other officials issued statements in response to the news. Although a formal announcement has not yet been made on Austin's economic development victory, official statements by state officials only confirm the news before an official announcement by the Pentagon

"This is great news for the state of Texas and the United States," Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) said. "Austin is the fastest growing city in the country, and I can not think of a more suitable place to serve as a modernization and innovation center for the United States Army. a unique synergy between the military, academics and their goal is to provide the soldiers with the weapons and equipment they need to fight and win. "

Williams personally welcomed the command, extending his assistance if needed "As a resident and representative of Austin, I welcome the Army Futures Command, and we look forward to working with them to ensure that the Army remains the fighting force the best trained and best equipped in the world. "

US Republican Michael McCaul, a Republican representing District 10, noted the flawless nature of integrating the Future Command into the organization, given the abundance of functions c onnexes already present in Austin.

"I Can not Imagine a Better Place Futures Command Center to be Located," McCaul said in a prepared statement, "Austin, my hometown, is a thriving technology center that has close ties with the US Armed Forces and is home to some of the most recent innovative investments in US Army research and development, including the Defense Innovation Experimental Unit, the Army Research Lab South and the AFWERX 'Air Force. I know that this addition will serve as a great help to the command. "

US MP Lamar Smith, Republican Representative, Dist 21:" This is great news for Central Texas: the Command of the United States. Army of the Future will bring hundreds of jobs to the Austin area. With its excellent academic institutions and well established technology sector, Austin will be of great help to the co. The establishment of the command marks the most important reorganization of the institutional army since 1973, when he created the command of the American Army Forces (FORSCOM) and the formation of the US Army. and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), army officials said. "Unique in terms of structure and design, it is headquartered in Austin, Texas, to better collaborate with academia, industry and private sector innovators, while providing an affordable quality of life for staff." of Futures Command ". ad. "When it reaches full operational capacity in the summer of 2019, there will be approximately 500 people in the headquarters, including sub-organizations, many of which currently reside in TRADOC and AMC, which will be transferred to Army Futures Command in the coming months. physically move units or personnel from these commands at the present time. "

" It is not a matter of moving a lot of people from other commandments, "said Ryan D. McCarthy, Undersecretary of the Army. Army of the Future may be better characterized as a restructuring and destratification in order to maintain the best elements of all military capabilities. "

Army Futures Command also oversees the eight cross-functional teams of the Army, The six priorities for modernization of the military, explained McCarthy, he added that each CFT should allow senior Army leaders to make faster decisions on the acquisition in order to to meet the needs of the future force, in accordance with the Vision of the Army, he adds

the city as the future home for the new function of the army.In April, the CEO Mike Rollins reacted to the news that the Austin was among the finalists for obtaining the US Army modernization function and developing new technologies.

] Austin Named Finalist for the US Army Headquarters Function

Austin Finalist for Landing US Army Futures Command Center

"We are delighted that the US military considers Austin as a potential location for its command of the future of the Army," said Rollins. He noted the status of host city for a number of other military functions, suggesting that a synergy already exists locally: "The Austin area already houses the unity of the city. Defense Innovation (DIUX) Department of Defense, as well as the Texas Reserve Command "

The city also has strong academic institutions and a thriving technological industry that would strengthen the mission of the Command of the United States. Army of the Future, said Rollins at the time: "Our strong academic institutions and our leading technology innovation sector have always worked together to find solutions."

Neither municipal officials nor did the chamber representatives comment on the Bloomberg report. The Pentagon will make an official announcement on this subject Friday at 9:00 am [19659002] Despite the silence before an official announcement, a special telephone meeting called by the Texas University System Council gave rise to speculation that the contact is related to the armed function. The conference call is scheduled for 1:30 pm, based on an open meeting notice issued by the Board of Regents.

In an attached agenda, the UT System Board Regentsallude to a "… possible lease of space in the UT system building, 210 W. 7th St.," at US government as the subject of Friday's phone call.

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