The Air Force has announced Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, is the preferred alternative for the permanent location of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) headquarters, a new major command focused on the nuclear and global strike mission.

The identification of a preferred alternative is part of the Environmental Impact Analysis Process required under the National Environmental Policy Act.  Although Barksdale AFB has been identified as the preferred alternative, a final basing decision will not be made until the environmental process is completed. In October 2008, the Air Force announced that a Major Command would be created to be the single authority over all strategic operational forces assigned to the nuclear deterrence mission.  The service established a provisional AFGSC headquarters at Bolling AFB, Washington, DC, as an interim location for the command on January 12, 2009.  On January 21, the Air Force announced the six potential candidate bases for the MAJCOM and began site surveys that concluded on March 6th. Following the completion of the environmental impact analysis, the Air Force intends to make a final base selection this summer.