Why Florida

The
Connected
State

Florida is not where national security happens to meet. It is where much of it already operates.

Florida today

Commands, launch, industry, research, and capital — across the state.

Florida’s national-security ecosystem spans combatant commands and test ranges, spaceports and rocket factories, defense manufacturers and startups, universities and investors. Hover over or tap a region on the map to see what’s there.

U.S. unified combatant commands headquartered in Florida: Central, Special Operations, and Southern: 3 of 11; U.S. unified combatant commands headquartered in Florida: Central, Special Operations, and Southern; Source: U.S. Department of Defense — Combatant Commands ↗
Economic impact of Florida’s military and defense industry (2022 data): $102.6B; Economic impact of Florida’s military and defense industry (2022 data); Source: Florida Defense Support Task Force — 2024 Economic Impact Summary ↗
Florida jobs supported by military and defense activity (2022 data): 865,000+; Florida jobs supported by military and defense activity (2022 data); Source: Florida Defense Support Task Force — 2024 Economic Impact Summary ↗
Launches from Florida’s spaceports in 2024 — a state record: 90; Launches from Florida’s spaceports in 2024 — a state record; Source: Space Florida ↗

Hover over or tap a region on the map

Statewide

Select a region to see the commands, companies, universities, startups, and investors there. Across the state, these institutions finance and support the ecosystem.

Statewide financing & support

Regions

How Florida got here

More than a century in the making.

Today’s ecosystem was built over decades — by policy, investment, institutions, and geography.

1914
Naval aviation takes root in Pensacola
The Navy established an aeronautic station at Pensacola, beginning more than a century of naval aviation training in Northwest Florida.
Today: Northwest Florida →Source: NAS Pensacola ↗
1939
Camp Blanding
Florida established Camp Blanding as a National Guard training reservation. In World War II it became a major Army training center, training many of the infantry replacements of 1944–45.
Today: North Central Florida →Source: Florida National Guard ↗
1942
Training for war at Eglin
At Eglin Field, the Doolittle Raiders trained for their mission over Japan.
Today: Northwest Florida →Source: Eglin Air Force Base ↗
1950
The first launch from Cape Canaveral
A Bumper rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral — the first launch from the Cape.
Today: Central Florida & the Space Coast →Source: NASA ↗
1969
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on its mission to the Moon.
Today: Central Florida & the Space Coast →Source: NASA ↗
1983
U.S. Central Command
U.S. Central Command was established, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
Today: Tampa Bay & the Gulf Coast →Source: U.S. Central Command ↗
1987
U.S. Special Operations Command
U.S. Special Operations Command was established, also headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base.
Today: Tampa Bay & the Gulf Coast →Source: U.S. Special Operations Command ↗
1997
Southern Command moves to Miami
U.S. Southern Command relocated its headquarters from Panama to the Miami area.
Today: South Florida & the Keys →Source: U.S. Southern Command ↗
2015
SOFWERX opens in Tampa
Special Operations Command created SOFWERX in Ybor City to bring startups, academia, and nontraditional innovators to the special operations community.
Today: Tampa Bay & the Gulf Coast →Source: SOF News ↗
2019
The Space Force era
The U.S. Space Force was established; Florida’s Cape launch installations later became Space Force installations.
Today: Central Florida & the Space Coast →Source: U.S. Space Force ↗
2024
A record year in launch
Florida’s spaceports supported a record 90 launches, as commercial companies joined government missions on the Space Coast.
Today: Central Florida & the Space Coast →Source: Space Florida ↗

The opportunity ahead

Florida has the capabilities. The opportunity is to connect them.

Florida’s strengths line up with national priorities. Stronger links between government, industry, investors, universities, and talent can turn proximity into progress.

Government & military
Industry & startups
Investors
Universities & researchers
Students & talent

National priorities · Florida strengths

Space security
Government and commercial launch, spacecraft production, and the Eastern Range
Maritime security & the Western Hemisphere
Southern Command, the Coast Guard, interagency operations, and Atlantic and Gulf ports
AI, autonomy & cyber
University research, Team Orlando’s simulation community, and cyber education hubs
Defense industrial base
Aircraft production and sustainment, missiles, sensors, ship repair, and suppliers statewide
Defense tech & capital
SOFWERX, AFRL’s Doolittle Institute, startup accelerators, and new venture investment
Talent & workforce
Universities, installations, and a large veteran and defense workforce

Why this summit

A forum built to connect the network.

The Florida National Security Summit convenes Florida’s ecosystem — and leaders from across the country — to align capabilities with national priorities, foster collaboration, and advance national security.

Join the mailing list See the program

Sources and notes (64)

Draft for review: this page links official sources for every institution and milestone, and is being fact-checked before publication.