Frequently Asked Questions

The Huachuca 50 is a membership-based nonprofit organized in 1991 at the request of the late Senator John McCain. The Huachuca 50 is committed to enhancing, growing and protecting the national security assets on Fort Huachuca and in the Sierra Vista and Cochise County Area. 

The Mission of the Huachuca 50 is to support and grow Fort Huachuca National Security Assets while promoting the economic welfare of Sierra Vista and Cochise County, AZ. 

• Define/illustrate the dense network of national security assets co-located on Ft. Huachuca. 
• Expand and strengthen relationships within the network and the surrounding community. 
• Address military value, costs and other issues that affect Sierra Vista and Cochise County Area national security assets.

Fiscal realities will continue to pressure the Defense Budget. The Huachuca 50, like many comparable organizations in communities across the country hosting military bases, can engage local, state and federal government in ways that Department of Defense (DoD) activities cannot. Communities, bases, DoD activities and the military services will continue to compete to demonstrate who provides the most value to our national security, and thus deserve continued investment from DoD. The Huachuca 50 is at the epicenter of these efforts. It is needed to help the DoD activities on Ft. Huachuca better compete for the recognition and support necessary to sustain and grow their missions. 

The Huachuca 50 is a membership-based 501c(6) nonprofit. At present, the Huachuca 50 Executive Board (see Meet the Board page on this website) comprises the Board of Directors. The Board includes members representing local education, health services, defense industry, business, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, transportation, veterans, and county/city government. The Board is supported by Advisors in the State and US legislatures. 

Ft. Huachuca is home to many DoD activities, among them are: the US Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE), consisting of the 111th Military Intelligence Brigade with five subordinate battalions, the Human Intelligence Training Joint Center of Excellence (HT-JCOE), and the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA); Army Futures Command, Intelligence – Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (I-CDID); Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC); Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM); Information Systems Engineering Command (ISEC); Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM); Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM); Electronic Proving Ground; Network Enterprise Center; Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center; Civilian Human Resources Center; Defense Commissary Agency; Soldier and Family Readiness Center; Military Retirement Services Office; and the United Services Organizations (USO).  

The DoD and military significantly contribute to the local economy by generating employment opportunities and stimulating various sectors. Military bases create direct jobs for service members and civilian personnel, while also indirectly supporting local businesses, from retail to construction services. The activities on Ft. Huachuca provide over 21,000 local jobs and over $2.8billion per year in economic impact. With an estimated total economic impact of over $2 billion per year, they comprise one of the four main pillars of the Monterey Bay economy, along with agriculture, tourism and education. 

There is no formal relationship between the Huachuca 50 and the city, however the Sierra Vista Mayor is an Ex-Officio member of the Huachuca 50, and Huachuca 50 board members routinely collaborate with city officials to accomplish the Huachuca 50 mission. 

There is no formal relationship between the Huachuca 50 and Cochise County, however a member of the County Supervisor Board of Supervisors is typically an Ex-Officio member of the Huachuca 50 and regularly participates in the monthly Huachuca 50 Board meetings to ensure a shared understanding of the latest efforts of both parties. 

There is no formal relationship between the Huachuca 50 and the State of Arizona, however, Board Members routinely engage with the Governor’s Military Council. 

There is no formal relationship between the Huachuca 50 and the Federal Government, however the Huachuca 50 retains a paid lobbyist to help craft language in the annual National Defense Authorization Act that is beneficial to Ft. Huachuca and the surrounding area. The Huachuca 50 also has congressional liaisons on the Board who routinely engage Arizona’s US Senators and southern Arizona Congressional Representatives. 

There is no formal relationship between Huachuca 50 and the DoD activities on Ft. Huachuca, however the Huachuca 50 plays a critical role in several Ft. Huachuca Strategic Plan Lines of Effort. 

The Huachuca 50 obtains funding through donations and paid memberships. The City of Sierra Vista and Cochise County also provide financial support for lobby efforts in Washington D.C. 

Visit the Join/Donate page on this website to join and/or donate to the Huachuca 50. For further information contact Chris Holston, Membership Coordinator, at fh50.membercoord@gmail.com, or Dr. Randy Groth, President of the Board, at fh50president@gmail.com. 

The Huachuca 50 is a Founding Member of SADA, and the Huachuca 50 President, as well as Huachuca 50 Member Mignonne Hollis are on the SADA Board of Directors. 

The Huachuca 50 Board meets at 5:00PM on the first Thursday of each month at the Sky Islands Regional Partnership office located at 21 E. Wilcox Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. 

 The Huachuca 50 mailing address is: Huachuca 50, P.O. Box 2898, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-2898.