AURORA | Aurora residents driving by Buckley Space Force Base may not have noticed it, but the installation and its impact grew a lot last year, local and military officials said Wednesday during an annual State of the Base luncheon and presentation.
Amid big news was the annually released total for the base’s financial impact in the region.
“In 2024, we reached $2.6 billion over a $50 million increase from last year,” Col. Heidi Dexter, commander of Space Base Delta 2 said. “For all the Swifties in the room, that means we’re in our spending era.”
The State of the Base event, held yearly by the Aurora Rotary Club and Aurora Chamber, was filled with laughs and insights on the inner workings of the Buckley Space Force Base.
“As the old saying goes, knowledge is knowing that tomatoes are fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put them in a fruit salad,” said Robert Devall, director of Military Affairs for Aurora Chamber of Commerce.
The Buckley Regional Military Affairs Council highlighted accomplishments of Team Buckley and outlined a vision for the future of the base.
The event featured Dexter and Chief Master Sgt. Sharma Haynes, senior enlisted airman at the base. They were joined by other mission partners from across the installation.
Last year, the local Military Affairs Council worked on a variety of initiatives to improve quality of life for servicemen and their families, officials said.
The year ended with new base housing options and programs, expanding living choices for enlisted members.
The base is home to more than 12,000 personnel, assigned to 117 “mission partners,” including the “Big Six.” — the 140th Air Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, the Navy Reserve Center Denver, the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, the Army Aviation Support Facility and the Air Reserve Personnel Center.
Buckley supports operations across all six Department of Defense services, civilian agencies and international allies.
In addition to early missile warning and cyber operations, Buckley supports more than 94,000 service members, retirees, civilians, contractors and family members, fostering community connections while ensuring national and allied defense.
“These airmen and guardians provide unparalleled support for missile warning intelligence and cyber operations,” Dexter said. “These efforts continue to keep us connected and aligned with our national defense priorities.”
Other Buckley achievements included implementing a new Purple Star Initiative, which provides critical support to military family students as they navigate the unique challenges of frequent relocations.
“This legislation is not only open for our military families, but in powerful recognition of their sacrifices and contributions to our nation,” Haynes said.
She said Buckley and Front Range School Liaison Officers worked alongside lawmakers to bring the state and national project to fruition. Last April, Gov. Jared Polis signed the initiative into law, coinciding with the Month of the Military Child observance. This legislation provides support to more than 44,000 military families.
One of Dexter’s highlights from last year’s efforts was “CHAPPIE,” a hazard checker engineered by one of the base’s airmen. CHAPPIE looks like a dog robot and is “one of the Defense Department’s two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles, according to the website.
“This represents a legacy of innovation and is a testament to the power of new ideas and talents of our service members,” Dexter said.
Annually, the biggest news is how much the base contributes to the regional and national economy, which grew to $2.6 billion.
Dexter said that last year, the base was host to the third annual Future of Buckley Task Force, which convened senior community stakeholders and base leaders to discuss challenges, opportunities and updates related to supporting Buckley’s missions and Colorado’s military community. Key topics included energy resilience, infrastructure projects, 140th Wing recapitalization, community relations and base housing. The task force aims to develop a one-, three- and five-year strategic plan to address challenges and ensure Buckley remains equipped to safeguard America’s interests.
“As our base and its mission continue to grow, so will the economic contributions to Aurora Denver and ultimately Colorado Front Range,” Dexter said. “Buckley’s integrated forces are crucial to the community’s goal of sustaining a robust relationship with the defense industry.”