FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 24, 2008

Chambliss, Isakson Urge Navy, Defense Department to Base Aircraft Carrier at Naval Station Mayport
Will create growth, jobs for Camden County, Kings Bay

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., are urging the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense to base the next aircraft carrier to be commissioned at Naval Station Mayport located near Jacksonville, Florida. The Navy announced preliminary intentions to do so last week and is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year. The move would benefit Georgia’s Coastal communities by creating growth and jobs at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Camden County, which would likely provide repair and maintenance capability as well as training opportunities for the Navy in the local fleet operating area.

Chambliss and Isakson noted that while the facility at Kings Bay is not logistically suited or equipped to house an aircraft carrier, the personnel stationed there are equipped and more than capable of providing critical nuclear repair and maintenance.

“I have been privileged to see firsthand the excellent work our personnel at Kings Bay do in maintaining nuclear submarines,” said Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “The Navy would be wise to base its next carrier at Mayport, so that it could capitalize on the skill and knowledge offered by our professionals at Kings Bay.”

“I encourage the Navy to move forward with its preliminary decision and make it final,” said Isakson. “The resources at Kings Bay are unmatched and would save the Navy time and money in the long term.”

The text of the letter is below:

November 21, 2008

The Honorable Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Secretary Gates:

On November 17, 2008, the Navy announced their desire to base a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at Naval Station Mayport. We write to express our support for this decision and for a final decision by the Secretary of the Navy in this regard by December 31st, 2008.

Having reviewed the Navy’s analysis and rationale, we believe that Mayport provides advantages over Norfolk with respect to access to training ranges and force protection. However, the crucial advantage Mayport offers is the strategic benefit of having two nuclear-capable East Coast carrier ports to guard against a catastrophic event in Norfolk.

Although the Cold War has long been over, the risks to the United States of an attack on key national security facilities and infrastructure have never been more diverse and real than they are today. Consistent with the Navy’s long-standing practice of having more than one substantial naval base on both the East and West Coast, basing the next carrier at Mayport provides for strategic dispersion and ensures robust industrial support facilities and personnel to maintain the Nation’s carrier force.

Lastly, there has long been synergy between operations at Naval Station Mayport and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, and this synergy would only increase with the stationing of the next carrier at Mayport. Kings Bay has an existing, robust nuclear repair and maintenance capability which could be a resource to nuclear operations in Mayport, and a carrier in Mayport would also enhance training opportunities in local Fleet operating areas.

We appreciate your consideration of our views on this issue.

Very truly yours,
Saxby Chambliss
Johnny Isakson