On Aug. 13, Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories released their economic impact report during the Kirtland Partnership Committee’s biannual meeting.
Col. Justin Secret, 377th Air Base Wing and installation commander, has been in the post for nearly a month but has quickly found a community at Kirtland.
Secrest said the base had a $7.5 billion economic impact in 2024 -12% of the entire Albuquerque area economy.
“… It hasn’t taken long for me to feel both humbled and energized by the scale of the mission here… and the strength of this community,” Secrest said. “As I get to know the base and the mission more deeply, one thing becomes immediately clear: Kirtland is not just a base — it’s a strategic engine. And the power behind that engine is our mission and those of our incredible mission partners.”
“Kirtland alone employs 5% of the greater Albuquerque area workforce, making us one of the state’s largest and most diverse employers,” Secrest said. According to the report, KAFB’s payroll reached $2.6 billion in 2024.
Secrest began by saying one of the largest contributors to our economic impact is Sandia National Laboratories.
“They continue to be a national leader in science and technology. Their advancements in nuclear security and defense innovation are not only crucial to our national defense — they’re creating jobs and driving economic impact right here in Albuquerque,” Secrest said.
Sandia National Laboratories Director Laura McGill announced that in 2024, the labs had an all-time high $5.2 billion in total expenditures, a $424 million increase from 2023 to 2024 and a 66% increase from 2017.
Secrest said construction expenditures increased 275%, as team Kirtland updated existing military infrastructure, built a new defense threat reduction agency (DTRA) building, and renovated the Gibson child development center.
“And these numbers aren’t just abstract federal dollars being spent on the installation. They’re coming back into the community,” Secrest said. “In fiscal year 2024, we spent $1.14 billion locally — at your grocery stores, your hardware shops, your construction sites and your tech firms. That money stays here, with the city and the state. And the ripple effect? Another $1.1 billion in indirect output — boosting local suppliers, service providers, subcontractors and more.”
Secrest said Kirtland is responsible for $2.1 billion in job creation value — supporting over 56,000 jobs in the local economy. This includes the 34,000 local jobs created in fiscal 2024 in addition to Kirtland’s current workforce.
In fiscal 2024, Kirtland awarded more than $1.079 billion in contracts to small businesses — opening doors for entrepreneurs, local innovators, and future industry leaders to contribute directly to national defense.
“This will just continue to grow,” Secrest said. “We want to retain and attract talent. To do that, we are focused on the whole person and their quality of life — not just their role on base.
“Take education for example. There are 9,000 school-aged children in our Kirtland community, who face unique challenges in the school systems. We’re thrilled about the upcoming opening of the new building for Sandia Base Elementary School, an Albuquerque Public Schools (campus) located on our installation.
“Housing. We currently have 119 military families waiting for on-base housing. That’s why we’ve partnered with 14 local properties through the rental partnership program, which helps families find quality housing fast. But we need more.
“Crime is another challenge we’re facing together. We’ve seen a spike in unauthorized access attempts — we’re the third-highest base in the Air Force for turnarounds at the gate. But the good news is we have a strong relationship with Albuquerque police and Bernalillo County sheriff’s office, and we’re tackling it as a team.”
