That and a geographic fortress of the Rockies, dessert, and the plains, plus economically+ manpower + a better relationship abroad. Water would be the big choke point, but they have enough to get into desalinization if they need too.

Shit. I wonder if I should move.

Texas is the state with the 3rd most US defence spending. Virginia and Maryland are numbers 2 and 4, but you have to guess that it's headquarters there close to Washington DC and the actual manufacturing might be done elsewhere.