The Office of the Governor of the State of Michigan

10/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/28/2026 13:09

Gov. Whitmer, Federal, State, and Local Leaders Break Ground on $152 Million Selfridge Runway Project to Support Future Fighter and Tanker Missions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2026

Gov. Whitmer, Federal, State, and Local Leaders Break Ground on $152 Million Selfridge Runway Project to Support Future Fighter and Tanker Missions

Infrastructure improvements will advance Selfridge as multibillion-dollar economic engine, position Michigan as a leader in national defense

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, officials from the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), federal, state, and local elected officials, and community stakeholders broke ground on the $152 million Selfridge Air National Guard Base runway project. This investment represents a significant milestone in preparing the installation for its future F-15EX Eagle II fighter aircraft and KC-46 Pegasus tanker missions.

The bipartisan project, which was funded earlier this year, will realign and expand the runway at Selfridge, strengthening the installation's infrastructure to accommodate its next generation of aircraft and reinforcing the base's long-term role in national defense and Michigan's economy.

"Selfridge is essential to our national defense, our economy, and the communities that surround it," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "This groundbreaking marks another important step in preparing the base for its next generation of missions. I'm proud to have worked with leaders at every level to support the men and women who serve, strengthen Michigan's role in our nation's defense, and secure Selfridge's future. Let's continue working together to solve big problems and keep Selfridge strong."

The runway improvements are a critical part of the infrastructure upgrades needed to bring home Selfridge's future missions. The Michigan National Guard's 127th Wing is preparing to transition from the A-10 Thunderbolt II to the F-15EX Eagle II, which was announced in April 2025, and from the KC-135 Stratotanker to the KC-46 Pegasus, strengthening the installation's future airpower and aerial refueling capabilities.

"Breaking ground on this project represents a significant investment in the future of Selfridge and the military readiness it provides to our state and nation," said U.S. Army Major General Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the DMVA. "Through strong partnerships among state, federal and local leaders, we are advancing the critical infrastructure needed to support the F-15EX Eagle II and KC-46 Pegasus missions and ensure Selfridge remains a vital part of our nation's defense."

The runway project is part of a broader infrastructure effort at Selfridge that includes the relocation and reconstruction of a portion of William P. Rosso Highway between Interstate 94 and Jefferson Avenue. The highway project supports infrastructure changes associated with the base's future mission requirements and includes roadway realignment, drainage improvements, and related modifications.

Together, these projects reflect continued collaboration among the state, Macomb County, and military partners to prepare Selfridge for its future missions while supporting the installation's long-term operation and crucial role in the regional economy.

Selfridge Background

Selfridge contributes an estimated $850 million to Michigan's economy, supporting 30,000 jobs statewide and over 5,000 members of the Air and Army National Guard and Reserve components. It is home to units from every U.S. Armed Service except Space Force, as well as homeland security operations by Customs and Border Protection.

Selfridge supports Michigan's defense industry, which contributes $30 billion to the state's economy and supports approximately 166,000 jobs. It directly supports other military installations in Michigan, such as Camp Grayling, the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, and the Detroit Arsenal, among others. With its legacy of serving F-16s and A-10s, Selfridge is well equipped to support a fighter mission, which includes not just aircraft but also auxiliary and support staff and materials. The new F-15EX mission at Selfridge builds on the successful, bipartisan effort to secure a new KC-46A tanker mission at the base, which was announced in January 2024.

Advocating for Selfridge

Since day one, Governor Whitmer has been laser-focused on winning a game-changing new fighter mission at Selfridge to support Michigan's defense industry and protect our national security:

  • December 17, 2019: Called on President Trump to support a new fighter mission at Selfridge during his first term before COVID redirected attention at the federal level.
  • July 8, 2022: In the wake of new Air Force plans to divest the A-10 fighter mission from Selfridge without a replacement, hosted the Secretary of the Air Force at Selfridge to advocate for a replacement fighter mission.
  • July 13, 2022: Wrote to the Secretary of the Air Force as a follow up to his visit to reiterate her commitment to removing any obstacles to a new fighter at Selfridge.
  • July 20, 2022: Signed a budget investing $6.1 million to make critical improvements to Selfridge.
  • July 27, 2022: Spoke to the Deputy Secretary of Defense to advocate for a fighter mission for Selfridge.
  • November 16, 2022: Sent a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force following up on his visit to Alpena to underscore the need for a new fighter mission in Michigan.
  • December 2, 2022: Met with the Deputy Secretary of Defense to advocate for a fighter mission for Selfridge.
  • January 12, 2023: Sent a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force to urge the Air Force to invest in a new fighter mission at Selfridge.
  • January 25, 2023: Delivered State of the State calling for a fighter mission at Selfridge.
  • February 9, 2023: Made the case for a fighter mission at Selfridge during a meeting with White House officials in Washington, D.C.
  • May 15, 2023: Joined state and federal officials to break ground on a new $28 million hangar equipped for fighter maintenance at Selfridge.
  • July 31, 2023: Signed a budget with $13.2 million to improve and maintain infrastructure at Selfridge and position the base for a new fighter mission.
  • January 11, 2024: Joined Michigan federal officials in announcing Air Force decision to base KC-46A tankers at Selfridge, while continuing to push for a fighter mission.
  • April 22, 2024: Announced new Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation to support Michigan's defense industry and Selfridge.
  • July 24, 2024: Signed a budget with $15 million for capital improvements and infrastructure projects at Selfridge.
  • February 5, 2025: Proposed a new budget with $26 million to upgrade critical infrastructure at Selfridge to attract a new fighter mission.
  • February 22, 2025: Spoke with Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C. and discussed defense investments in Michigan.
  • February 26, 2025: Delivered State of the State address calling on Republicans and Democrats to work together to win a new fighter mission at Selfridge.
  • March 13, 2025: Met with President Trump at the White House to advocate for Michigan priorities, including bringing defense investments to the state.
  • April 9, 2025: Delivered Build, America, Build Address in Washington, D.C., laying out a commonsense, bipartisan economic agenda to build more ships, planes, and chips in America, mentioning Michigan's efforts to invest in Selfridge, and calling on both Republicans and Democrats to work together.
  • April 9, 2025: Following up on her March meeting, met with President Trump at the White House to advocate for Michigan priorities, including a new fighter mission at Selfridge.
  • April 29, 2025: Joined President Trump at Selfridge for the announcement of new F-15EX fighter mission.
  • August 5, 2025: Met with President Trump at the White House and discussed preparations for new missions at Selfridge.
  • February 13, 2026: At the Munich Security Conference, announced the release of Michigan's Defense and Aerospace Strategic Plan, a five-year roadmap designed to grow the state's defense and aerospace sectors, strengthening national security, and creating high-paying jobs that support Michigan's economy.
  • March 3, 2026: Met with President Trump at the White House and discussed needed changes at the base in preparation for the new missions.
  • May 11, 2026: Calls for the additional state funding to prepare Selfridge for the fighter mission.
  • May 20, 2026: Celebrated the passage of necessary funding for the improvements now being made at Selfridge..
  • August 19, 2026: Celebrated 'Make it in Michigan' Competitiveness Fund investment that will leverage federal resources to construct a Connected Vehicle Cyber Security Center and System Integration Lab/Hardware Integration Lab at Selfridge to bolster cybersecurity protections for military and commercial vehicles.

Growing Michigan's Defense Industry

Governor Whitmer has worked hard to grow Michigan's defense industry, create good-paying jobs, and build more cars, chips, drones, and batteries right here in Michigan.

  • Announced Michigan's NADWC was designated by the U.S. Department of War as a National Range for Deep Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Training.
  • Launched the Uncrewed Triple Challenge, a first-of-its-kind competition to drive innovation in autonomous drone technology.
  • Established new Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation, enhancing Michigan's defense and aerospace ecosystem.
  • Announced the release of Michigan's Defense and Aerospace Strategic Plan, which is designed to grow the state's defense and aerospace sectors, strengthen national security, and create high-paying jobs that support Michigan's economy.
  • Announced an innovative partnership between U of M and the Los Alamos National Laboratory to build a computing facility to research national security, cybersecurity, AI, energy, and more.
  • Announced a $50 million partnership to build Michigan's defense manufacturing workforce.

About the 127th Wing

A powerhouse of air dominance and strategic agility, the Michigan National Guard's 127th Wing operates both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and KC-135 Stratotanker flying missions, set to convert to the F-15EX Eagle II and KC-46 Pegasus, respectively in the next five to seven years. The 127th Wing stands as the only Air National Guard unit to host a military installation, Selfridge Air National Guard Base. With more than 1,400 elite Airmen, 45 mission partners from five of the six branches of the military and the Department of Homeland Security, the 127th Wing defends the homeland and fuels global missions with unmatched versatility and readiness. For more information, please visit 127th Wing.

About Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) synchronizes strategic, legislative and fiscal initiatives to build and sustain military readiness, care and advocacy for veterans and cultivate purposeful partnerships. Branch operations include Michigan Veteran Homes, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, Michigan Youth Challenge Academy, Army National Guard and Air National Guard which stand in support of our mission to serve every member. For more information, please visit: Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

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The Office of the Governor of the State of Michigan published this content on October 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 28, 2026 at 19:09 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]