THE CNMI will be the site of a large-scale military exercise this summer, according to Lt. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman, deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces.
Responding to a question during the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s economic forum at Kensington Hotel on Wednesday, Lenderman, who participated via Zoom, said while there has been no indication from the Trump administration to increase a permanent military presence in the CNMI, “the region will experience a rise in military exercises and large-scale rehearsals, such as REFORPAC, taking place this summer.”
Short for Return of Forces to the Pacific, REFORPAC is a large-scale exercise involving nearly 300 aircraft spread across 25 different locations.
Lenderman said ongoing runway projects, along with storage and sustainment plans for prepositioned equipment, will likely lead to an increase in contractors and contract opportunities to support these activities across the CNMI.
Asked what will happen once the divert airfield project on Tinian is completed, she said it will provide the island with a modernized, strategically significant airfield capable of supporting a range of military operations — particularly in the event that Andersen Air Force Base in Guam becomes unavailable due to conflict or natural disaster.
She said the upgraded airfield on Tinian will serve as a viable alternative landing site for key aircraft, including refueling tankers and cargo planes.
The project also encompasses critical infrastructure enhancements, such as expanded fuel storage facilities and improved roadways, she added.
Following the completion of the divert airfield project, she said the U.S. Air Force plans to outsource runway maintenance and sustainment work, with formal requirements to be announced.
This, she said, presents a valuable opportunity for CNMI-based companies to engage in supporting long-term operations on Tinian.
