by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
July 2, 10 new members of City Council started their first day of work marking likely the biggest change in leadership in Jacksonville’s executive branch since Consolidation.
A similar shake-up is occurring within the leadership of Jacksonville’s military bases. According to Dan McCarthy, the City’s director of military affairs, four area bases will get a new commander within the next three months. The Commander Naval Regional Southeast will also change during that time frame.
“It’s the largest shift since I’ve been in Jacksonville,” said McCarthy, a retired member of the U.S. Navy himself. “The only senior leader staying is U.S. Naval South Adm. James Stevenson.”
In addition to losing the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy in the coming weeks, Naval Station Mayport will also see the departure of Capt. Charlie King, who took over the 20-vessel base in June 2004. Capt. Chip Dobson is leaving Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Col. Jim Hooks is leaving the Blount Island base occupied by the Marines and Rear Adm. Mark Boensel will be replaced as the Southeast Regional Commander by Rear Adm. Mike Vitale. The Fleet Readiness Center Southeast – formerly known as the Naval Air Depot — will also get a new commander.
McCarthy said there’s nothing to be read into the concentrated changes locally and there’s nothing going on nationally or internationally from a military standpoint that would provoke the changes. He said it’s typical for most commanders to stay at a base for 2-3 years and the sweeping changes are merely coincidence.
“It’s just the way it works out sometimes,” said McCarthy. “Some may stay longer for family needs. There was not a plan to shift the whole watch at one time.”
McCarthy said one of his primary tasks over the next few months will be to act as a liaison between the new commanders and the mayor’s office. Over the past few years, Mayor John Peyton has become familiar with the area’s military leadership through various events and luncheons. McCarthy is familiar with everyone taking over, but Peyton isn’t.
Locally, the military generates about 50,000 active and civilian jobs representing millions of dollars in economic impact. McCarthy said the state’s two biggest bases are in Jacksonville. Mayport currently houses 21 ships — four guided missile cruisers, four guided missile destroyers and 13 guided frigates — while NAS serves as an air base and houses a hospital, among many other things.
One of the biggest concerns from a military standpoint is the decommissioning of the JFK and its impending departure. The mayor’s office as well as City officials from the beach and Mayport Road businesses and merchants have all expressed their desire with the Navy to replace the JFK as soon as possible.
“We are always trying, but there is nothing to report,” said McCarthy about the possible replacement of the JFK. “There has been no announcement about us getting a ship.”
McCarthy said he and others from the area have made trips to Washington, D.C. to make a case for Mayport, but the Navy hasn’t indicated it intends to replace the carrier any time soon. McCarthy said he can’t lobby for a replacement ship in the true sense of the word since the Navy isn’t going to send a ship to a base without just cause.
“We just explain the importance, significance and why Mayport would be a good place,” said McCarthy, adding Mayport businesses are beginning to feel the effects of the decommissioning of the JFK. “Businesses at Mayport are very concerned. About half say they are losing business or work.”