Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure round resulted in two gains for Kirtland AFB. The smaller gain was the directed movement on base of a Reserve Center previously located off-base on Wyoming south of Lomas and north of Copper.

The larger gain was the directed move of the Battlespace Environment (“Space Weather”) Division of the Space Vehicles Directorate from Hanscom AFB MA to Kirtland AFB. The move, part of the 2005 BRAC process, was completed in September 2011.

The Space Vehicles Directorate is one of two Air Force Research Laboratory Directorates at Kirtland AFB. A new $56 million dollar laboratory building at Kirtland AFB for the Battlespace Environment Division was almost completed, as well as a new $56 million dollar laboratory building for the “Space Weather” unit.

The White House proposed a new round of base realignment and closure (BRAC) to be conducted in 2021, subject to Congressional approval. The work being done by the KPC is more important than ever.