Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, delivers closing remarks during a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. The event brought together government, military and industry partners to discuss infrastructure modernization efforts that support increased launch capacity, operational resilience and future national security and commercial space missions. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

Julie Sinton Pruniski, Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH) Central Coast Vice President of Projects and Programs, delivers a presentation on the Space Vandenberg program during a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. Space Vandenberg is a state-backed initiative designed to expand regional aerospace education, accelerate commercial spaceport infrastructure, and secure California's leadership in the global space economy. . Developed in partnership with the California Jobs First program and the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), this initiative aims to drive sustainable economic growth across the Central Coast. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

Attendees listen to presentations during a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. Space Launch Delta 30 hosted the event to share updates on modernization projects through public/private partnerships supporting the future of the nation’s premier West Coast spaceport. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

An attendee asks a question during a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. Interactive discussions between government officials and industry representatives helped identify opportunities and challenges associated with modernizing infrastructure to meet future launch requirements. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

From left to right, Dave Rickards, Space Launch Delta 30 Plans and Programs director, U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Kyle Rowland, Spaceport Integration chief, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Carla Cimo, 30th Contracting Squadron commander, participate in a panel discussion during a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. The panel focused on hearing directly from commercial partners to ensure the range can move at the speed of industry, eliminate developmental bottlenecks, and rapidly transform the installation to support an increasing cadence of western range launch missions. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, greets an attendee during a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. The event encouraged collaboration between government and industry partners to support infrastructure improvements that will expand Vandenberg’s capacity to execute future launch missions. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

Industry, government and military representatives attend a presentation during the Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. The forum provided mission partners an opportunity to discuss future infrastructure investments that support the installation’s growing launch mission and long-term modernization objectives. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Olya Houtsma)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander (right) sits with Kathryn Kolby, U.S. Space Force Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Installations and Logistics, listens to a presentation at a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. The event brought together government, military and industry leaders to discuss infrastructure modernization, workforce development and public-private partnerships that support Vandenberg’s continued growth as the nation’s premier West Coast spaceport for national security, civil and commercial space missions. As the Department of the Air Force and Space Launch Delta 30 transition the West Coast range into a high-capacity spaceport, these public-private collaborations serve as a critical national security effort to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks and achieve a resilient, launch-on-demand posture to preserve the American way of life. (U.S. Space Force photo by Christopher Okula)

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Spaceport of the Future Industry Day

Published July 29, 2026
By Senior Airman Olya Houtsma

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. --

Government, military, and industry leaders gathered for a Spaceport of the Future Industry Day at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, July 29, 2026. Hosted by Space Launch Delta 30, the event provided a forum for partners, and potential partners, to discuss the infrastructure, workforce, and regional investments needed to support the installation’s growing space-launch mission.

Throughout the event, speakers highlighted modernization projects that will improve roads, utilities, launch support facilities, and mission infrastructure across the installation. Panel discussions and presentations encouraged collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies, private industry, and academic institutions to prepare Vandenberg for a higher launch cadence while strengthening national security and civil and commercial space operations.

The event also showcased partnerships with organizations such as the Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH) Central Coast, which supports workforce development, regional planning, and economic growth through the Space Vandenberg initiative. By working together with government and industry partners, Space Launch Delta 30 is advancing the Spaceport of the Future vision to ensure Vandenberg remains the nation’s premier West Coast spaceport for current and future mission requirements.