By 1948 The State Guard went inactive. It wasn't until the latter half of the twentieth century, with National Guard units becoming increasingly federalized, that the need for a local force who would not be sent abroad in a time of emergency was present. In 1985 the Tennessee Defense Force was formed to provide a trained military reserve force for use of the Governor's use in times of emergency, and in 1998 the name was changed by the legislature to the Tennessee State Guard. In 2005, Governor Phil Bredeson activated the Tennessee State Guard to assist with relief efforts from Hurricane Katrina.