Governor Ducey, Orbital ATK Announce Expansion of Launch Vehicles Operations in Chandler, Arizona

CHANDLER, AZ (December 1, 2016) — Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and Orbital ATK, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense technology firms, today announced the expansion of the company’s Launch Vehicles Division operations into an additional facility in Chandler, Arizona.

Subject to Chandler City Council approvals, Orbital ATK will be moving into the Allred Park Place along Chandler’s Price Corridor, known for being home to leading edge companies focused on advanced business services, aerospace, life sciences, sustainable and high technology research and manufacturing.   

The building will add 46,000 square feet of office space to Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles campuses. With additional facilities in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona, Orbital ATK’s total footprint in the state is more than 840,000 square feet, supporting more than 2,000 high-tech and high-paying aerospace and defense jobs and a total payroll of more than $170 million in Arizona.

The additional Orbital ATK facility will help support a projected growth of up to 500 full-time, high-wage jobs over a five-year period. Orbital ATK’s launch vehicle business began in Chandler in the 1980s and has grown to more than 1,200 employees working in Chandler at two locations. The business provides launch vehicles for commercial, civil and government customers.

The additional jobs complement Arizona’s robust aerospace and defense sector that contributes $38 billion annually to the Arizona economy and employs more than 52,000 workers.

“Orbital ATK has been a key part of Arizona’s aerospace and defense sector for many years and has helped cement our state’s reputation as a leader in the industry,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “The company’s continued commitment to Chandler speaks volumes about Arizona’s talent pool, business climate and quality of life. Arizona is absolutely committed to supporting job-creators that are advancing cutting-edge technologies, and we congratulate Orbital ATK on its success!”

“Orbital ATK’s has a 30-year history of designing and building rockets in Chandler, Arizona,” said Rich Straka, Orbital ATK’s Vice President and General Manager of Launch Vehicles Division. “Our launch vehicles deliver commercial and government payloads into orbit, including critical supplies to the crew aboard the International Space Station. We also build missile defense interceptor and target vehicles that are critical to the nation’s security. This cooperative agreement with the state of Arizona and City of Chandler helps ensure we have the room to support those vital programs for our country.”

This project will add to the growing landscape of high-wage Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) jobs in Chandler and the state.

"Orbital ATK has long been an anchor on the Price Corridor and a vital contributor to Chandler's reputation as the Innovation and Technology Hub of the Southwest. We appreciate the company's continued faith in the City expressed through their selection of Chandler for this expansion project," Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said. "We have seen a number of Chandler companies expand their workforce this past year and these new, high-level engineering jobs, will have a tremendous impact to the region as Orbital ATK continues its strong investment in Chandler."

“Earlier this year, PwC ranked Arizona number one in the nation in aerospace manufacturing attractiveness,” said Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority President & CEO. “When an industry leader like Orbital ATK chooses to significantly expand its workforce in Arizona, it reinforces why we earned that ranking. This project will create hundreds of new, high quality jobs and further enhance Arizona’s leadership position in the aerospace, manufacturing and technology sectors. I thank Orbital ATK for its ongoing commitment to Arizona!”

“The announcement that Orbital ATK has decided to grow its operations in Chandler is tremendous news for Arizona, and will create 500 new jobs for hardworking Arizonans and enhance our state’s important contributions to national defense,” said  U.S. `Senator John McCain (R-AZ). “The expansion of one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense corporations adds to the increasing number of innovative companies deciding to do business in Arizona to take advantage of our pro-growth policies and active defense community. I applaud Governor Doug Ducey and his entire team for their efforts in making this expansion a reality.”

“Orbital ATK’s growing presence in Chandler is welcomed news for the local community and Arizona’s economy. I thank Orbital ATK for continuing to invest in Arizona,” said U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ).

Today, Orbital ATK has hundreds of high-tech job openings that it is seeking to fill at its facilities in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona for more information please visit careers.orbitalatk.com . 

Media Contacts

Trina Helquist, Orbital ATK, (480) 814-6504, [email protected]

Daniel Scarpinato, Office of Governor Ducey, (602) 542-1342, [email protected]

Susan Marie, Arizona Commerce Authority, (602) 845-1231, [email protected]

Stephanie Romero, City of Chandler, (480) 782-2231, [email protected]