VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 2026 State of Vandenberg will be held Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT at the Pacific Coast Center on Vandenberg Space Force Base. The annual event will provide the community with key updates on installation priorities, mission growth and the evolving role of Vandenberg in national defense and global space operations.
Senior military leaders scheduled to speak include U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander; Canadian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Kyle Paul, deputy commander, Combined Joint Force Space Component, United States Space Command; U.S. Air Force Col. Dustin Harmon, 377th Test and Evaluation Group commander; U.S. Space Force Col. Krista St. Romain, Delta 1 commander; and U.S. Space Force Col. Keith Morris, Delta 5 deputy commander. Together, they will outline mission priorities, operational developments and the strategic outlook for the year ahead.
"We’ve had an incredible year, and as we step into the next era of the space race, Vandenberg stands at the nexus of some of the most critically important strategic capabilities in the Department of War, to include command and control of U.S. Space Force capabilities, nuclear deterrence, homeland defense and space access,” Horne said. “This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse missions that call Vandenberg and California’s Central Coast home."
Recommended gate entry for attendees is 10 a.m., with early arrival strongly encouraged. The formal program will run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a networking reception and appetizers from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The event will conclude at 1 p.m.
Reservations must be received by March 2, 2026, at 4 p.m. Registration information can be found here. (https://santamariavalleychamberofcommerce.growthzoneapp.com/calendar/Details/state-of-vandenberg-2026-1631582?sourceTypeId=Hub)
Members of the media interested in covering the event must contact Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs by March 11 at (805) 606-3595 or SLD30.PA.Workflow@us.af.mil for credentialing and base access instructions.
Vandenberg Space Force Base serves as a critical hub for space access and advanced air and space testing, supporting more than 54 strategic mission partners while hosting all three U.S. Space Force field commands. The installation enables vital missions, including nuclear deterrence, homeland defense, global command and control of space assets, orbital tracking and training the next generation of space Guardians and nuclear Airmen. With a $5.5 billion economic impact and an increasing launch cadence, Vandenberg remains at the forefront of space innovation and national security.