Military officials call it the most important project in the Pacific, as today saw a historic groundbreaking of the Department of Defense's multimillion dollar divert airfield.

Brigadier General Jeremy Sloan, the commander of Andersen Air Force Base, said, "Today, this Tinian divert development project is the largest and most important air force project in the region."

It's a sign of the times - a large investment on Tinian for the nation's defense marking the military's permanence in the region. The groundbreaking comes after six years of negotiations which culminated in 2019 when the U.S. Dept. of Defense and the CNMI government and Ports Authority inked a 40-year lease worth $21.9 million for airport and seaport projects.

CNMI Gov. Ralph Torres added, "This ground has been divided and parsed with the people of Tinian sacrificing? Of the island to witness our goals of being part of the great American story."

That story comes with over a $161 million contract awarded to Black Micro Corporation, which is expected to complete the job by October 2025.

Leonard Kaae, general manager or Black Micro Corp., said, "Work includes the airfield development at the Tinian International Airport encompassing approximately a million-two cubic yards of mass excavation for the development of a new taxiway as well as parking aprons for twelve fueling aircraft."

Local leadership says those promises will have an impact beyond the fence.

"I am certain that this project will continue to demand a labor force that will bring in more employment opportunities for our people moving forward," said Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan.

And looking back, the island has played a strategic role for the country during World War II. It was once the largest airbase in the world and served as the launching pad for the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson announced, "From now and into the future, this airfield will enhance our ability to meet mission requirements, broaden our defense strategies, and expand our capabilities for training and operations."

That mission is only growing faster with rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and a reminder at the groundbreaking of the NMI's relationship with America.

Commonwealth Ports Authority Chair Kimberlyn King-Hinds said, "Our relationship is complicated, no doubt. But we continue to make great strides to forge a united path that is mutually beneficial because we must."