WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) led members of the Tennessee delegation in sending a letter to Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III urging him to make the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard (ANG) Base outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, the seventh main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus.

McGhee Tyson ANG Base Would Be Cost-Effective Choice with Decades of Proven Experience

“The dedicated personnel at McGhee Tyson ANG Base in Tennessee have steadfastly served the United States for over 68 years and have established themselves as one of the most decorated air refueling units in the history of the U.S. Air Force having achieved 16 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. Tennessee’s 134th Air Refueling Wing boasts over $200M of infrastructure improvements and over 100 percent end strength over the last decade making them uniquely qualified to receive and employ the KC-46. Further, we understand that the ANG currently makes up approximately 40 percent of the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 air refueling capability. This selection also pursues proportional distribution of next generation air refueling capability within the ANG. McGhee Tyson ANG Base/134th Air Refueling Wing is a cost-effective solution with the right airmen, with decades of proven experience in the refueling mission, and is the right choice as MOB 7 for the KC-46 and for the U.S. Air Force.”

Click here to download this photo of Senator Blackburn with Airmen of Tennessee’s 134^th Air Refueling Wing.

• U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) joined Senator Blackburn in sending this letter.

Click here to view the full letter.