SMYRNA, Tenn. — April 25, 2025 — Smyrna is gearing up for a significant transformation as the Tennessee National Guard prepares to return to its former stronghold at the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport. The move, involving both the Air National Guard’s 118th Wing and Army National Guard units, represents a long-term investment in the community and the state’s military infrastructure.

At its April 8 meeting, the Smyrna Town Council authorized Mayor Mary Esther Reed to move forward with a traffic impact study to prepare for the upcoming relocation. The decision aligns with detailed plans that will see the Air National Guard transition from its current base at Berry Field in Nashville to Smyrna over the next four years, with the Army National Guard’s move to follow over seven years.

United States Senator Marsha Blackburn told WGNS on Thursday…

Earlier this year, in February 2025, officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new United States Property and Fiscal Office (USPFO) warehouse to support the Guard’s operations. The 91,000-square-foot facility, which will replace a 53,000-square-foot warehouse built in 1973, marks the beginning of a new era at the Smyrna Airport. Dignitaries including Maj. Gen. Warner A. Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, joined Mayor Reed and representatives from the construction firm to mark the occasion.

The Guard’s return to Smyrna is driven in large part by the Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) expansion master plan, which reclaims space currently occupied by the Guard at Berry Field. According to Department of Defense documentation (DD Form 1391), the license for the Air National Guard’s hangar at Berry Field will expire in 2045 with no option for renewal, necessitating the relocation.

The full transition is expected to bring upwards of $400 million in infrastructure improvements to the Smyrna area over the coming years, making it one of the largest long-term investments in the town’s history. Senator Blackburn said…(Hear the entire interview HERE)

The 118th Wing, known for its role in unmanned aircraft intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), will anchor operations in Smyrna once more. Additionally, HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, previously stationed at the Smyrna Airport but moved to Berry Field, are slated to return as part of the transition.

“This project is critical to the state of Tennessee,” the Guard emphasized in its federal funding justification. Smyrna’s leadership, residents, and military community alike are now preparing for a future that will bring growth, jobs, and enhanced national security capabilities back to Rutherford County.