Tamanoeconomico / Wikimedia Commons
Why It Matters
The Idaho Army National Guard is honoring one of Idaho’s most accomplished public servants with a lasting tribute — dedicating a new, multimillion-dollar military facility in Jerome County to the late Governor Dirk Kempthorne, who passed away in April at age 74 after a battle with colon cancer.
What Happened
The dedication ceremony for the Jerome County Regional Readiness Center is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at 611 Liberty Ave. in Jerome, Idaho. The facility will be formally named in honor of Kempthorne, who served as Idaho’s 30th governor from 1999 to 2006 and held the title of commander-in-chief of the Idaho National Guard during that time.
Former first lady Patricia Kempthorne and Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke are expected to attend the ceremony.
Kempthorne had a distinguished record of public service spanning decades. In addition to his two terms as governor, he served as mayor of Boise, a U.S. senator, and as Secretary of the Interior under President George W. Bush. One of the defining moments of his governorship came in 2004 when he oversaw the deployment of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team to Kirkuk, Iraq — a unit that was deactivated earlier this month.
By the Numbers
- $24 million — total construction cost of the new facility
- $17.8 million — federal funding contribution
- $6.3 million — state funding contribution
- 55,000 square feet — size of the readiness center
- July 6, 2023 — date of original groundbreaking in Twin Falls
Zoom Out
The new readiness center will house the Idaho Army National Guard’s 145th Light Support Battalion and a Vehicle Maintenance Facility, both relocating from Lewiston. The consolidation reflects a broader effort to modernize and regionalize Guard operations across Idaho.
This dedication is not the only recent tribute to the late governor. Earlier this year, a plaque bearing Kempthorne’s name was attached to the engine room of the USS Idaho, the newest U.S. nuclear-powered submarine, in recognition of his role as chairman of that vessel’s commissioning advisory committee. His legacy now spans both military infrastructure on land and the nation’s undersea fleet. Idaho’s military installations continue to play a central role in the state’s identity — a fact highlighted again earlier this year when Mountain Home Air Force Base made headlines following a mid-air incident.
What’s Next
Monday’s ceremony will mark the official dedication of the facility bearing Kempthorne’s name. With the 145th Light Support Battalion set to relocate into the new Jerome facility, the readiness center is expected to become a long-term anchor for National Guard operations in south-central Idaho. The naming ensures that Kempthorne’s close connection to Idaho’s military heritage — forged during his years overseeing Guard deployments — will be recognized for generations to come.
About the Author
