San Diego is among 15 cities the U.S. Army is considering for the headquarters of its planned Futures Command, which will keep track of emerging technology and innovations that could be used in warfighting.
The project could mean the potential for 500 new military and civilian jobs, according to San Diego Regional EDC.
Any technologies and concepts beyond the current Five-Year Defense Plan will be the responsibility of Army Futures Command.
Officials say it's the most significant reorganization since 1973.
The Army notified the cities and asked for detailed information including which area would be recommended for the facility and are there plans to expand airport facilities within the next five years.
Read the questions in the letter sent April 17 to Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
The other contenders are Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York; Philadelphia; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Francisco; and Seattle.
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The Army says the headquarters should be near universities and technology companies. It says the host city should have workforce expertise in biomedicine, chemistry, computer hardware and software, electronics, materials and mechanical systems.
The Army hasn't said when it would choose a city.
San Diego Regional EDC and the City of San Diego will send in the requested information by the May 10 deadline.
It would be the fourth command-level operation in the Army.
Currently, in San Diego, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps make up the bulk of the military presence. Those two services operate seven bases or military facilities across the county.
One in 5 jobs in San Diego County is created by the military sector, according to the most recent military economic impact study.
In 2018, defense spending was projected to yield $51.7 billion of San Diego County’s GRP, while generating a total of 343,000 jobs and $22.4 billion of total personal income.
