Government Services industry review Q2-2008; RSM EquiCo Capital Markets

Key Topic: Beyond the Beltway - Huntsville, Alabama

The release of the Defense Department's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC 2005) transformation put Huntsville, Ala. on executive whiteboards throughout the government services and defense community. BRAC 2005 effectively cements Huntsville's position as the center for U.S. missile technology by realigning the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command with the Army Aviation and Missile Command and the Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

The Missile Defense Agency, part of the Defense Department, facilitates missile defense systems development that integrates multi-service capabilities into a seamless theater-defense system. It is also responsible for guiding the development of a missile defense system capable of defending the United States from foreign missile attack. Space and Missile Defense Command is responsible for developing the Army's missile defense systems and assuring the Army's access to and utilization of space access in the execution of its mission.

Senior leaders from the Beltway and beyond have taken note and many are actively building a presence in northern Alabama. Following is a timeline highlighting the recent migration to Huntsville. Read complete report.