State of Vandenberg 2025: Vandenberg Space Force Base Highlights Record Launches and Future Goals

LOMPOC, Calif. — Community members braved the rain to attend the 2025 annual "State of Vandenberg" luncheon.

Col. Mark Shoemaker, Col. Dustin Harmon, Gen. Schess, and several other officials took the podium to celebrate the past year's accomplishments and outline upcoming goals.

The 30th annual State of Vandenberg address was held Friday at the Pacific Coast Center on the base.

"The State of Vandenberg is really the base senior leadership's opportunity to communicate with civic leaders, community partners, and local stakeholders about what's happening—essentially, our version of a State of the Union," said Col. Shoemaker, commander of Space Launch Delta 30 at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The event highlighted increases in operations and personnel, including a rise in launches compared to last year, the recent ribbon-cutting of a new office, and the efforts of Vandenberg teams that assisted with wildfire relief in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Altadena.

"Last year, with 51 SpaceX launches and Minuteman test launches, 2024 was the busiest launch year we've had in 50 years," Shoemaker said. "In my entire lifetime, we've never seen anything of that magnitude, and it's a testament to the work our team has done to ramp up that launch cadence."

Officials also identified areas of concern that require future attention.

"We test anything that's going to be fielded up north, as well as the current systems already in place, to ensure they remain safe, secure, and effective," said Col. Harmon of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group. "We test early and often to identify any issues before they become problems for the fielded force."

Shoemaker also acknowledged the public’s interest in informational sessions about SpaceX launches and their potential environmental and public health impacts.

"How do we do what the nation needs us to do with access to space? Because we are a spacefaring nation, and we must continue to put capability into orbit," Shoemaker said. "But how do we do it in a way that balances military needs with public impact?"

SpaceX and Vandenberg Space Force Base are aiming for as many as 100 launches this year, with both public and private missions regularly taking off from the base.

Vandenberg officials said 30,000 people have signed up for their public launch alert system, which covers areas from the Central Coast to Los Angeles.

If you haven’t signed up, you can do so on Vandenberg’s website by clicking here.