Aerojet Rocketdyne to establish headquarters in Huntsville

Aerojet Rocketdyne announced Monday that it will establish its new Defense Business headquarters in the Rocket City.

Huntsville, Alabama, will be home of the new HQ as a result of a significant reorganization that will be consolidating the company’s six business units into the two units: Space and Defense.

“Today’s reorganization is another crucial step in our strategic journey to enhance the efficiency of Aerojet Rocketdyne and improve the company’s competitive posture,” said Aerojet Rocketdyne’s President Eileen Drake. “This move within our aerospace and defense reporting segment better aligns our business units with our operating capabilities and customers, increases accountability at the management level, and further streamlines our business operations by reducing spans and layers in the organization, while achieving significant cost savings for our customers and the country.”

The move is expected to create 40 jobs between August 2016 and August 2017.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle released a statement expressing his excitement for the new headquarters.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne has been a strong business partner in Huntsville for the past eight years, and today’s announcement celebrates the company’s expansion as a result of our dynamic aerospace and defense community,” Mayor Battle said. “We look forward to continued growth as a result of this news, and we are proud of Huntsville’s global position as the place to be for innovation and strategy in rockets and defense.”

Gov. Robert Bentley said the news sends a strong message about the robust capabilities of Alabama’s aerospace sector.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne’s decision to base its Defense Business Unit in Huntsville sends a strong message about the robust capabilities of Alabama’s aerospace sector,” Governor Bentley said. “Alabama has a long and distinguished history with the aerospace industry and I am pleased to see Aerojet Rocketdyne move its Defense Headquarters to north Alabama. The growth in Madison County is a result of technology and innovation, and I excited to know this new project will present more high-skilled and high-paying jobs to Alabamians.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby  also weighed in on the news.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne’s announcement today is great news for Alabama,” Shelby said in a news release. “I have worked closely with the company for years, and I am proud of its expanding presence in Huntsville. North Alabama plays a leading role in supporting our nation’s space and defense needs, which makes Aerojet Rocketdyne a natural fit for the area. I am confident that Aerojet Rocketdyne will build on its history of producing cutting-edge rocket technology and continue to flourish in the state of Alabama.”

The exact location of the new headquarters is yet to be determined, but it will be within Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park.

“Cummings Research Park is proud Aerojet Rocketdyne chose to locate in the Park years ago and now expand in the Park with this latest announcement,” explained Cummings Research Park Director Erin Koshut. “We look forward to working closely with them and their employees to build a vibrant community in CRP, one that is driven by science and powered by people.”