Climate Change Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy, Acting Principal Deputy ASN for Energy, Installations & Environment Visits Southeast

04 August 2021

From U.S. Navy Office of Information

WASHINGTON – Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy for Climate Change Deborah Loomis, and Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment (EI&E) James Balocki traveled to the Navy's Southeast Region Aug. 4 to tour bases affected by Hurricane Elsa and meet with Sailors and key community partners.

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Loomis and Balocki traveled to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kings Bay, Georgia, where they observed base facilities recently impacted by tornadoes from Hurricane Elsa, and installation resiliency efforts to restore the facilities to full operational status. Clean up and recovery efforts were underway, with the storm damage and impacts to the mission still evident.

“Natural disasters, such as Hurricane Elsa, can have devastating effects on our installations and communities," said Loomis. “Our Navy team of civilian, military and supporting contractors really came together to get the base back up and running in a very short period of time. Their tremendous efforts really were the key to being able to recover quickly from this damaging extreme weather event and minimize impacts to mission.”

During their visit, Loomis and Balocki met with Rear Adm. John Spencer, Commander, Submarine Group Ten, base commanding officer Capt. Chester Parks, Capt. Edward Robledo, commanding officer of Trident Refit Facility, and Capt. Miguel Dieguez, public works officer. They toured the Trident Refit Facility to observe ongoing infrastructure projects and dry dock facilities.

James Balocki, (center left) Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment , and Deborah Loomis, (center right) Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy for Climate Change, are given a safety brief from Capt. Miguel Dieguez, (left) public works officer of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

KINGS BAY, Ga., (August 4, 2021) James Balocki, (center left) Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment , and Deborah Loomis, (center right) Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy for Climate Change, are given a safety brief from Capt. Miguel Dieguez, (left) public works officer of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, and Cmdr. Marcel Duplantier, (right) resident officer in charge of construction Trident, during a tour. The Kings Bay Dry Dock is currently undergoing a $596 million in preparation for Columbia class submarines and to extend its life into the 2080s. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Xavier Saldana/Released)

“We know that extreme weather events, like those that affected Kings Bay, are going to keep happening and with greater intensity, which is why investing in climate resiliency is key for maintaining readiness ashore and for supporting the warfighter.” said Loomis.

Following their visit to NSB Kings Bay, Loomis and Balocki traveled to Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. They met with Capt. Mark Sohaney, commanding officer NAS Key West and base leadership as they evaluated the conditions of the Installation, which was impacted in 2017 By Hurricane Irma. During the visit, Loomis and Balocki toured sites affected by the hurricane as well as several family housings sites to assess recovery progress.

James Balocki, (right) Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment , visits the Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Periscope Shop with Michael Badorf, (left) acting deputy, weapons repair department, TRF Kings Bay, during a tour.

KINGS BAY, Ga., (August 4, 2021) James Balocki, (right) Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment , visits the Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Periscope Shop with Michael Badorf, (left) acting deputy, weapons repair department, TRF Kings Bay, during a tour. Balocki was onboard Kings Bay to see damage caused by a tornado and tour base facilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Xavier Saldana/Released)

“I am impressed by our Sailors and the quality and continued maintenance and upkeep of both Kings Bay and Key West,” said Balocki. “Their efforts to maintain our installations during extreme adverse weather events and recover from them contributes directly to warfighting readiness.”

Loomis was appointed for the role as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy and sworn in on Monday, August 2, and in her capacity will advise the Secretary of the Navy on climate change.

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