The property on which Naval Station San Diego is now located was deeded to the U.S. government by the city of San Diego on September 3, 1919 to build a docking and fleet repair base. The property consisted of 21 water acres and 77.2 land acres with the former being mostly tidelands and marsh flats.
On February 15, 1921, the U.S. Navy acquired the land, buildings, and some machinery. Later that year, on June 10th, the USS Praire, commanded by Cmdr. H. N. Jenson, was ordered to the area to take over and prepare the site for receipt of destroyers which would soon be decommissioned. A marine railway was also begun, and on February 23, 1922, U.S. Destroyer Base San Diego was created by General Order 78.
During World War II, the Destroyer Base was renamed U.S. Naval Repair Base San Diego to reflect an expanding and changing role. During the war, more than 43,000 sailors and officers trained for repair duties, and more than 5,000 ships were sent to the station for conversion, overhaul, and repair, including the repair of battle damage.
After World War II, the name of the Repair Base was changed, for the last time, to Naval Station San Diego. The mission was expanded to support the ships of the Pacific Fleet.
Naval Station is homeport for approximately 60 Navy ships and home base to 50 separate commands, each having specific and specialized fleet support purposes. It is the workplace for approximately 48,000 military and civilian personnel. Three thousand men and women are housed in modern, attractive bachelor quarters.
Major shore commands include Fleet Training Center, Naval Dental Center, Naval Legal Services Office, Naval School of Dental Assisting and Technology, Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Navy Public Works Center, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Naval Education and Training Support Center, Naval Electronics Systems Engineering Center, Fleet Industrial Supply Center, and Naval Investigative Service.
The commanding officer, whose role is akin to that of a mayor of a medium-sized city, has several departments and commands reporting to him. Collectively, about 3,900 military and civilian personnel accomplish the multifaceted support mission.
Together, they provide a wide range of both direct and indirect fleet support: waterfront operations; security; supply; Navy Exchange Commissary; bachelor quarters; food services; public affairs; administration; transient personnel administration fiscal management; equal employment opportunity; civil engineering; family services; recreation on the station and various military family housing areas; medical and dental care; religious services; transportation; utilities; legal support; counseling and assistance; facility maintenance; fire protection; educational services; and child care for more than 2,800 dependent children daily.
Fleet support has always been the mission of Naval Station, and that mission affects all 98 ships home ported in the San Diego area. These include aircraft carriers at Naval Air Station, North Island, and submarines at the Sub Base in the Point Loma area. Ship support functions include such services as providing tugs and pilots. Pier space is also provided for home ported ships, for all Pacific Fleet ships undergoing refresher training or shakedown, for four Military Sealift Command ships, and for all foreign navy ships visiting San Diego. More than 3,500 ship movements are performed annually.
The commanding officer is responsible for approximately $35 million annually to run the station. Special Project funds, for maintenance and repair, average $10 million a year. New construction projects in the last three years have averaged approximately $8 million a year.
Naval Station San Diego is also committed to preserving and protecting the environment. Several innovative programs confirm that commitment. One of them is recycling. More than 18 tons of material are diverted from landfills every week. Add to that creative solutions to recycling problems, such as creating 2x4 beams out of recycled plastic bags and "sharing" resources through a hazardous materials reuse program, and it is easy to understand why other military installations look to Naval Station for ideas for their recycling programs.
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