The commanding general of U.S. Space Command, who reportedly convinced President Biden to leave the new command’s headquarters in Colorado rather than move it to Alabama, bought a $1.5M house and property near the base several months before the headquarters decision.

The Associated Press reported July 31 that, “U.S. officials told (the AP) that Biden was convinced by the commander of Space Command, Gen. James Dickinson, who argued that moving his headquarters now would jeopardize military readiness.

“Dickinson’s view, however, was in contrast to Air Force leadership, who studied the issue at length and determined that relocating to Huntsville, Alabama, was the right move,” the AP reported.

Colorado records released by Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala) today show that Dickinson registered the deed for the 20-acre property April 4. The value of the two-story home, a barn, and land now co-owned by the general and his wife is $1.5 million.

Army records also showed that Dickinson is a native of Estes, Colorado and has two college degrees from Colorado schools: a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

“General Dickinson is a Colorado native. He graduated from Colorado State and the Colorado School of Mines. And now we’ve uncovered that he bought a 20-acre farm and 4,000 square foot dream house in — you guessed it — Colorado,” Britt said today. “This $1.5 million property is just miles down the road from the interim Space Command headquarters in Colorado Springs — and he purchased it just a couple of months before recommending that Colorado be awarded the permanent headquarters.

“People across our state and nation deserve answers as to why General Dickinson and this administration ignored the Air Force’s objective recommendations, which were reaffirmed by multiple independent reviews, in favor of his retirement destination,” Britt said. “This new revelation raises more questions into the legitimacy of an already dubious decision by President Biden. It undoubtedly remains in the best interest of our national security to move Space Command HQ to Huntsville, and Alabama’s congressional delegation is going to continue fighting to right this wrong.”

AL.com had not received a response from U.S. Space Command prior to publication of this story.

Colorado officials argued to the president that, regardless of the base selection process required by the Pentagon, the startup Colorado headquarters was ready now to help protect America from hostile missiles. An Alabama base would take years and millions of dollars to build, they said, and that would limit the ability to defend against attacks.

Alabama’s congressional delegation suspects federal spending authorized to upgrade an existing Colorado building to accommodate the command startup went far beyond that. Colorado leaders added features that were touted later as proof Colorado Springs was fully ready to take command, Alabama lawmakers suspect.

And North Alabama Congressman Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) said Colorado asked for “$52 million for a multi-story building” in the latest federal budget request.