The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is poised to open its new “NGA West” campus near downtown St. Louis in late September. This marks the culmination of a nearly decade-long endeavor to modernize the agency's Midwest presence. The $1.7 billion facility, the largest federal investment in St. Louis history, will replace the existing downtown site and serve as a central hub for geospatial intelligence operations.
Despite budget constraints and workforce reductions mandated by the Trump administration, the project has stayed on schedule. Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, NGA director, confirmed the opening date during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces subcommittee. “We have been giving tours to our workforce. They’re getting excited,” Whitworth stated. He emphasized the facility’s design to promote collaboration between the federal government, private sector, and universities to accelerate innovation in geospatial intelligence. “One of the best examples of the combination of business, academia, civil government, federal government, intelligence, all banding together to ensure that this is a success,” he added.
The announcement coincides with the GEOINT Symposium in St. Louis, bringing together national security leaders, experts in satellite imagery, data analytics, and mapping technologies. NGA's expanded role and regional presence are expected to be central themes. The agency currently employs over 3,000 people in the St. Louis area. Plans for the new campus were first announced in 2016, and regional leaders see it as a catalyst for establishing St. Louis as a national center for geospatial science and technology.
Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) uses imagery, maps, and location-based data to understand global activities and environments. Its applications span military planning, emergency response, and commercial logistics. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) believes the new NGA campus will attract top talent and investment. At the subcommittee hearing, Bell predicted that NGA West will transform the area into a tech hub, attracting talent and investment to advance innovation in geospatial intelligence for national security. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has proposed legislation to fund workforce training programs focused on geospatial disciplines.
Whitworth highlighted the crucial role of space-based systems in data collection for GEOINT. “Gathering the data and imagery necessary to characterize the activities and operations of our adversaries from the earth to space, is not a simple task,” he noted. NGA personnel work in over 20 countries, often embedded with military and intelligence teams. A new partnership with the U.S. Space Force, including a joint mission management center, aims to streamline coordination and improve the speed of insights.
As NGA West nears completion, the agency aims to integrate government, academia, and industry to shape the future of U.S. geospatial intelligence.