Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: How Tommy Tuberville Is Keeping Alabama's Best and Brightest at Home

As someone who has watched Alabama's political landscape for decades, I can't help but tip my hat to Senator Tommy Tuberville for the tremendous strides he's made for our state. He hasn't just brought national attention to Alabama - he has delivered real, tangible results that are transforming our economy and keeping our talent at home.

The announcement that Fannie Mae is bringing operations to Birmingham represents a watershed moment for our state. These are high-quality, professional jobs that strengthen our economy, grow our tax base, and give Alabama families real opportunity right here at home.

Today's Fannie Mae bears little resemblance to the institution of a generation ago. After years operating under federal conservatorship, it is steadily transforming back toward its original role as a modern, market-driven, publicly traded company. That shift requires a very different kind of organization - one focused on efficiency, accountability, advanced technology, risk management, and long-term financial performance.

This transformation has turned Fannie Mae into a technology-driven financial services company, with growing emphasis on data analytics, cybersecurity, compliance, and operational excellence. That evolution demands a highly educated, professional workforce - exactly the kind Alabama's colleges and universities produce year after year.

Perhaps most significantly, Fannie Mae is deliberately decentralizing away from high-cost, heavily regulated blue states like California and the Washington, D.C. bubble. Instead of concentrating operations where affordability is disappearing and regulatory burdens are mounting, the company is establishing permanent operational hubs in states that value growth, opportunity, and common sense.

That means career-track positions in finance, technology, analytics, and compliance the very jobs that once forced Alabama's best and brightest to leave home in order to succeed are now coming here. These aren't temporary projects or short-term incentives. These are the kinds of professional opportunities our graduates have been seeking, right here in Birmingham.

The broader pattern is unmistakable. Huntsville has emerged as a powerhouse, transforming from a regional aerospace hub into a nationally recognized center for defense, technology, and innovation. The FBI Academy brings hundreds of high-level law enforcement and security positions. U.S. Space Command solidifies Huntsville's role as America's premier space operations center, adding thousands of military, civilian, and contractor positions in cutting-edge fields like satellite operations, missile defense, and space domain awareness.

Beyond these marquee announcements, Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal continues expanding as one of the Army's most critical installations, driving growth in defense contracting, cybersecurity, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. Companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and dozens of innovative startups are establishing or expanding operations there, creating a virtuous cycle of opportunity that rivals anything found in Austin, Denver, or Northern Virginia ,but with Alabama's quality of life and cost of living.

These aren't just jobs. They're careers that challenge brilliant minds, pay competitive salaries, and offer the kind of professional growth that keeps talented people engaged for decades. The kind of careers that Alabama's engineering graduates from Auburn, Alabama A&M, and UAH have traditionally had to leave the state to pursue.

For decades, we've watched talented graduates from Auburn, Alabama, UAB, and our other fine institutions leave the state because they felt they had no choice. That brain drain has been a quiet crisis, robbing Alabama of the very people we invested in educating. These announcements fundamentally change that equation.

None of this happens by accident. Senator Tuberville understands that relationships matter and results matter. His strong working relationship with President Trump and this administration has positioned Alabama to compete and win on the national stage.

When Tommy Tuberville is elected governor, I am confident this momentum will accelerate. Our state will continue winning projects, creating opportunities, and retaining the talented young people who are Alabama's future.

This is what leadership looks like. This is what results look like. And most importantly, this is what opportunity looks like for Alabama's next generation.

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a former state representative, the 2016 Trump Victory Chair, a current member of the Alabama Republican State Executive Committee, and a widely published political columnist.

Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Alabama Gazette staff or publishers.