# Tennessee Seeks Tullahoma Space Academy

Tennessee announced a proposal to locate the planned NASA-led U.S. Space Academy at Coffee County Joint Industrial Park near Tullahoma and Arnold Air Force Base. NASA is evaluating potential locations, and the site-selection commission is due to make recommendations within 120 days of the August 28, 2026 executive order—approximately December 26, 2026, or 58 days from October 29. The stated October 26 deadline for proposals has passed, but the signals do not confirm whether Tennessee submitted its proposal. No solicitation, contract value, award, or procurement contact has been announced; planning targets call for groundbreaking by 2027, an initial cohort in 2028, and a permanent campus by 2031.

- The potential site points to future requirements for campus construction, infrastructure, operations, and workforce training, but these are prospective needs rather than released procurements.
- Companies in construction, facilities, aerospace, and education or training services can use the site decision and subsequent acquisition plans to assess whether their capabilities align with the project.
- The commission’s recommendation is expected by approximately December 26, 2026. The signals provide no solicitation or procurement contact for businesses to act on at this stage.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Education, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 29, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- State of Tennessee
- U.S. Air Force (USAF)

### Key Quotes
> Tennessee offers readily available land, world-class aerospace testing infrastructure, an established academic partner, and a strong network of space, defense, and research institutions.
> — Matt Van Epps, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [Tennessee bids to host the new U.S. Space Academy near Arnold AFB](https://defence-blog.com/tennessee-bids-to-host-the-new-u-s-space-academy-near-arnold-afb) - The Defence Blog
- [See where Gov. Lee's pitching as future home of a U.S. Space Academy](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/28/space-academy-gov-bill-lee-location-tullahoma/92476869007) - The Tennessean