Home > Online Exclusives > Online Exclusive July 2006

WEB EXCLUSIVE

United Launch Alliance Set for Takeoff in Metro Denver

The Federal Trade Commission has given Lockheed Martin and Boeing the go-ahead on plans to merge their rocket production operations. The joint venture between the two companies, coined "United Launch Alliance (ULA)," will be headquartered at Lockheed Martin's Waterton Canyon facilities in Jefferson County.

"This is the news we have been waiting for," says Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver EDC. "At full employment, we expect that there will be 1,000 high-paying jobs as part of United Launch Alliance. The announcement is a 'coup' for Metro Denver."

Boeing and Lockheed Martin executives approached the Metro Denver EDC in the summer of 2005, asking for assistance in relocating at least 400 of Boeing's top-level engineers/administrators and their families from Huntington Beach, California, to Metro Denver.

The Metro Denver EDC hosted two open houses in Huntington Beach for Boeing employees. A delegation of 30 economic development partners, real estate brokers, and education professionals made presentations, offered information, and answered questions. Later in the summer, Metro Denver hosted 250 Boeing managers for tours of the region's housing and amenities.

"We knew the Metro Denver EDC was the go-to organization for this type of relocation. The resources it's brought to the table have been outstanding," says Paula Shawa, director of communications for Boeing.

The ULA will combine the production, engineering, test, and launch operations associated with U.S. government launches of Boeing's Delta and Lockheed Martin's Atlas rockets. Engineering and administrative functions will be located in Metro Denver, while rocket production operations will be transferred to a Boeing facility in Alabama.

Expansions like the United Launch Alliance illustrate Colorado's growing, dynamic aerospace industry. Colorado has the 3rd largest aerospace economy in the nation, employing over 155,000 people.