Austin Finalist To Land U.S. Army Futures Command Center

AUSTIN, TX — Austin is among five finalist cities to land the U.S. Army Futures Command center, a newly launched operational arm that aims to modernize the Army while developing new military technologies, according to a published report.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that Army officials have narrowed the potential sites for the center to Austin, Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Raleigh, North Carolina. Other cities previously under consideration included Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle, according to Defense News.

A final decision on the matter is expected at the end of June, the newspaper reported. The U.S. Army Futures Command center would create about 500 local jobs, according to the report.

“We strongly support our U.S. Army’s efforts to centralize and speed innovation to the battlefield under a new four-star general,” Phil Wilson, chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce told the newspaper. “We have 36 startup incubators and accelerators, 450,000 college students, 24,000 reservists, proximity to Camp Mabry, Operational Test Command at Fort Hood, medical R&D operations at Brooke Army Medical Center and Joint Base San Antonio, all of which would surround the Army Futures Command with new ideas. Our quality of life and cost of living for families is also very attractive, including for the 140,000 veterans who live in the Austin region.”

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