Joint Base Charleston Renamed for Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON — The joint base formerly known as Joint Base Charleston has been renamed Joint Base Lindsey Graham, marking a high-profile tribute to the late South Carolina senator and military veteran. The change was unveiled Monday at a ceremony led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, with state and federal officials praising Graham’s long record of service.

Hegseth said Lindsey Graham devoted his life to South Carolina and to the armed forces, pointing to his years in uniform and his time in Congress. He said Graham served the country in both the military and on Capitol Hill, and that his guiding belief was that peace depends on preparation. The secretary framed the renaming as recognition of a man he described as committed to protecting people, states, and sovereignty.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is from South Carolina, also spoke at the event and highlighted the base’s importance to the Air Force. He said Joint Base Lindsey Graham is home to the backbone of the Air Force’s C-17 fleet and called it the workhorse of the nation’s air defense. Bessent added that the aircraft would now carry the base’s new name on their tail, saying it would stand as a reminder of Graham’s role as what he called the American people’s workhorse.

The renaming came after Graham’s death on July 11, when he died suddenly in the evening from a suspected aortic dissection brought on by cardiovascular disease. He was 71. His death closed a long career that stretched across military service and elected office, making the decision to place his name on one of South Carolina’s most important installations a notable public honor.