15-05-2025
Smyrna Airport could be new home for TN Air National Guard's 118th Wing
SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN) — The town of Smyrna is in the running to become the new home of the Tennessee National Guard's 118th Wing Unit.
Currently, the unit is located at Joint Base Berry Field at Nashville International Airport. Initial discussion to move the unit was spurred by their lease ending with BNA in 2045.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Cornelius, who also serves as the public affairs superintendent for the 118th Wing, there is talk about moving the unit to Smyrna. However, no decisions have been made and discussions are 'very preliminary.'
Behind the scenes of blimp storage at Smyrna Airport
Dr. Murat Arik, director of the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University, spoke to News 2 about how the move would bring significant economic impact to Smyrna.
'You have the operation side, significant number of people of more than a thousand coming, who will live, eat and spend their time there,' Arik said. 'It doesn't matter if it's a business, military unit or any other institution, this will generate a significant amount of economic impact.'
Arik will reportedly work with the Tennessee National Guard for an in-depth economic study later this year. He believes there are only positives when it comes to this move.
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The 118th Wing serves a variety of missions. In particular, they focus on intelligence, cyber, combat support, and domestic emergency response.
Smyrna Town Manager David Santucci provided the following facts and figures of the 118th Wing's potential move to Smyrna:
8 to 10 years to complete
Estimated $1.93 billion in economic impact and investment to the local area
Total projected impact of $5.9 billion through 2050
National Guard presence would also enhance local events, such as the Great Tennessee Air Show, and strengthen the region's emergency response capabilities
To learn more about the 118th Wing, click here.
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