Naval Air Station Whiting Field hosted the regional commander Feb. 25-27 to showcase the base's capabilities and facilities. Rear Adm. Mary Jackson, commander, Navy Region Southeast, travelled to Milton, Florida, to learn about the installation, the mission, and to meet the team during her two-day visit.

During an all-hands call Feb. 26 Jackson praised the Whiting Team on earning the Installation Excellence Award, the award which recognized the base as one of the top shore commands in the Navy.

"Congratulations on earning this tremendous recognition," she said. "Thank you all for everything you do, day in and day out. You do make a difference." She reminded the audience about the five "E's" she emphasizes in working with and supporting the installations throughout the Southeast Region: "Enable, Engagement, Energy, Environment, and Encroachment."

Also on Feb. 26, Jackson was briefed by Capt. Todd Bahlau and NAS Whiting Field's senior staff, and received a Training Air Wing 5 brief with the commodore, Col. Gary Kling and deputy commodore, Capt. Mark Murray; she toured both air traffic control towers, and a had helicopter flight to see several of the base's outlying landing fields.

Jackson met with several community leaders: Santa Rosa County Commissioner Don Salter, Milton Mayor Wesley Meiss, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Tucker, and Santa Rosa County Military Liaison Pete Gandy. The conversation covered topics such as military/community cooperation, encroachment partnering, volunteering in the community, and economic impact of the military.

"I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with her about NAS Whiting Field and Santa Rosa County, the buffering partnership, and the importance of the base to the county," Salter stated.

A trip to Eglin Air Force Base Feb. 27 gave Jackson an opportunity to see elements of NAS Whiting Field's joint interaction and satellite facility management. The day included an office call and tour of VFA-101 and a tour of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) facilities and a demonstration.

Jackson travelled to all three Florida panhandle bases in one week. While getting up to speed on the various operations, security, financial, manning, and safety challenges from the different bases is vital toward being able to support the installations effectively, Bahlau stresses that it is equally important to the bases.

"Being able to communicate directly to your boss and show the strengths of your program as well as areas where the base could use assistance from the region is invaluable," he said. "Admiral Jackson's visit will pay dividends both in her understanding of our unique mission as well as our ability to meet her expectations. It was a very productive two days.

For more news from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, visit www.navy.mil/.