Colorado Wants You is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization created by business and civic leaders in our state to support and enhance the diverse military missions in Colorado. Colorado Wants You advocates on behalf of the importance of the military’s mission, members, veterans, and their families on a broad range of issues. Above all, we stress the unique, vital role that Colorado plays, and will continue to play, as critical player in protecting and enhancing America’s national security.
Colorado’s Landscape & Facilities: The Gold Standard for Military Training
For more than 70 years, Colorado has been an indispensable location for military training, stretching back to the heroic 10th Mountain Division that trained skiing soldiers here for pivotal World War II battles in the snows of the Italian mountains. That legacy continues today as troops train here to be prepared for rugged, high-altitude terrain in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe.
Simply put Colorado is the gold standard the gold standard for military training, whether on the West Slope, at Cheyenne Mountain, the U.S. Air Force Academy or at Buckley Air Force Base and our other military installations.
A recent report from the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said it best: “The unique combination of the flat plains landscape that quickly rises to meet the Rocky Mountain range allows a rich mix of geographical environments for land and air training.”
What We Do
Colorado Wants You is the statewide hub for advocacy for Colorado’s defense sector. In partnership with local communities and civic leaders from across our state, we work at the State Capitol, and in Washington D.C. to tell Colorado’s unique story – and our unflagging support for our military and our veterans.
Supporting Veterans and Their Families
Colorado higher education institutions are national pacesetters in providing excellent and relevant training and education that is not only aiding our veterans, but is helping to build a world-class workforce that is hugely attractive to the DOD and defense companies alike. Several Colorado colleges and universities are ranked among the best in the nation for veterans. In addition, Colorado Wants You is passionately committed to advocating for the kind of world-class medical care that our veterans here in our state not only need – but richly deserve.
Military Plays Crucial Role in Colorado’s Economy
Colorado Wants You is on the front lines promoting Colorado’s defense economy – and working to expand it and bring more high-quality jobs to the state.
Colorado boasts an economy synergy between the public and private sectors that is of immense value to both the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and to the state’s economy.
- Total DOD-related employment represents 5.2 percent of the state workforce, or 170,000 jobs, accounting for $11.6 billion in total labor earnings.
- DOD-related activity accounts for 6.5 percent of the Gross Regional Product (GRP).
- Defense-related economic activity in just three counties – El Paso, Arapahoe and Weld – accounts for $10.5 billion annually.
- Twenty counties in the state benefit from DOD-related employment.
Joe Blake
Joe Blake is Chancellor Emeritus at Colorado State University, and one of Colorado’s most prominent civic and business leaders. For more than a decade prior to joining CSU, Joe served as President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. For nearly 20 years prior to his leadership of the Chamber, Blake was part of the Senior Management Team that created the community of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, home today for nearly 100,000 residents.
Former U.S Sen. Hank Brown
A decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, Senator Brown has dedicated decades of his illustrious career to public service. He Hank spent six years serving Colorado in the U.S. Senate, five consecutive terms in the U.S. House representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District and four years in the Colorado Senate. Most recently, he served as the 21st President of the University of Colorado. He currently is senior counsel at the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm.
Dick Celeste
Dick Celeste is the president emeritus of Colorado College, where he served from 2002 to 2011. Prior to coming to Colorado, he served as director of the Peace Corps, the U.S. Ambassador to India and as the 63rd Governor of Ohio.
Maj. Gen. Andy Love, USAF (Ret.) Secretary/Treasurer
Directors:
• Christian Anschutz. Managing Director, Western Development Group
• Ted Harms, Executive Director, The Anschutz Foundation
• Kyle Hybl, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, El Pomar Foundation
• Mike Kopp, President and CEO, Colorado Concern
