Hansen's selection to the nine-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), which still requires Senate approval, would put the 11-term Utah congressman in the thick of the most far-reaching restructuring of the nation's military. Among other decisions, the fate of Hill Air Force Base could be determined by the panel.

The commission will provide the president and Congress with the final list of bases to be closed. The Defense Department expects to eliminate up to 25 percent of its structures.

"Tomorrow's a big day and I certainly hope he is part of the mix, because he understands the role of Hill Air Force base," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said. One of the meetings Huntsman had Monday in the nation's capital was with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley to make the case for protecting Hill Air Force Base.

Hansen, who resides in Farmington, did not return a call seeking comment Monday.

In January, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Hansen was one of two people recommended for the commission by House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Hansen downplayed the speaker's endorsement, saying he could still be tripped up by the rigorous FBI background check or the president could simply reject the speaker's recommendation, although that has not happened in the history of the BRAC process.

Hansen has said a spot on the commission would not necessarily benefit Hill Air Force Base and that he would vote to close the base if it was the right decision.

"Your first obligation is to do what is right for America and build the military," Hansen said at the time. "All it means for the state of Utah is, I'll treat them fairly," he said, indicating he could be more useful consulting for the businesses trying to keep Hill open than as a commissioner.

Hansen served 22 years on the House Armed Services Committee. He was also chairman of the Congressional Depot Caucus, consisting of more than 100 members with defense depots in their districts. The experience gave him broad insight into the defense depot structure, which will present some of the toughest decisions facing the commission.

Hansen retired from Congress in 2002. Last year he made an unsuccessful bid for Utah governor.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said the Pentagon has 25 percent more bases than it needs. The goal of the upcoming base closure round is to trim that fat and save taxpayers $7 billion, while focusing on the future military mission.

Rumsfeld will send the BRAC Commission a list of recommended base closures in May and the commissioners will spend the next four months touring bases. The commission's final report will go to Bush in September. It cannot be changed, but the president or the Senate can reject the entire report.

Last March, the Utah Defense Alliance - a group seeking to protect Utah bases - released a University of Utah study that projected closing Hill Air Force Base would mean the loss of 47,000 jobs and a $3.6 billion hit to the state's economy.