Pentagon to rename Joint Base Charleston in honor of Senator Lindsey Graham

The Pentagon has begun the process to rename Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina, honoring the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham, a veteran of the Air Force, represented South Carolina in the U.S. Congress for decades. The installation is set to be officially known as Joint Base Lindsey Graham.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed the initiative in an internal letter, citing Graham's "decades of distinguished service" to both the military and his public service roles. Meink emphasized that Graham's lifelong dedication to the armed forces was evident through his own military service and his work in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Graham served for 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, including several years as a judge advocate, both domestically and abroad.

The decision aligns with a broader campaign initiated by the Pentagon since President Donald Trump's return to the White House. This campaign aims to rename various military ships and installations. Notably, in June 2025, the Department of Defense officially changed the name of a ship that had honored gay rights activist Harvey Milk. The Pentagon has also considered renaming other vessels, such as the USNS César Chávez, a prominent leader in the farmworkers' civil rights movement.

Lindsey Graham passed away on July 11 from an aortic dissection. His long career in public service and his military background are the primary justifications for this posthumous honor.

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The dedication of Senator Graham's entire life to the Armed Forces was marked by his own military service and by his public work in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.