U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif., has more than a $1.8 billion impact on the economy of the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area annually.
The total impact of a military base on its economic area is the sum of base's annual payroll, expenditures, and estimated dollar value of indirect jobs created. SMC's total economic impact the local, specifically the 17 beach cities or communities that comprise the South Bay area of the Los Angeles region was measured at more than $1.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2015.
Based on the analysis model developed by the Financial Management and Comptroller division of the office of the Secretary of the Air Force, in Fiscal Year 2015 (last available data to date), Los Angeles AFB:
· Directly employed approximately 5,889 individuals (military, civilian and contractor), making it one of the area's largest employers;
· Indirectly created 12,031 jobs (for example, personnel hired by aerospace contractors to build SMC satellites), and;
· Had a total economic impact of more than $1.8 billion, which was an increase of $5.62 million or 3 percent more than FY 14.
In addition to its calculated impact, SMC serves as a draw for major production facilities for aerospace contractors such as Aerospace Corporation, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, SpaceX and others.
SMC is the Space Force's command center for researching, developing, acquiring and launching military space systems. Some of SMC's major programs are integral to modern life, particularly its GPS and weather satellites. Other SMC satellite systems support military communication and surveillance efforts.