Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island today for their receipt of the Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence.  This annual award recognizes the outstanding efforts of the men and women who operate and maintain U.S. military installations.  NAS Whidbey Island was one of five recipients of this competitive award.

"I applaud the Department of Defense for their recognition of Naval Air Station Whidbey as a model installation for our nation.  As a national center of electronic warfare, surveillance, explosive ordnance disposal and anti-submarine warfare operations, NAS Whidbey is at the forefront of our nation's defense," said Larsen.

In honor of this recognition, Larsen submitted the following statement into the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Record:

Mr. Speaker:

I rise today to applaud the Department of Defense for its recognition of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as a model military installation for the nation. Base commander Captain Syd Abernethy and the Island County community will accept the Annual Commander in Chiefs Award for Installation Excellence on Friday.

This award recognizes the hard work and exceptional efforts of the people who operate NAS Whidbey.  I praise the team effort – from the women and men on the ground to those in the sky – that makes this installation run.

The community and the residents of Oak Harbor and Island County play an integral role in protecting and promoting NAS Whidbey.  It is their support, year after year, that makes NAS Whidbey great.

NAS Whidbey has emerged as a national center of electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare operations. These missions will be pivotal to creating the type of military the Department of Defense wants to build in the upcoming years.  NAS Whidbey will likely have to accommodate tremendous growth in the future and this award shows that the team and infrastructure are in place to do the job.

An official copy of this statement was presented to Captain Syd Abernethy at the award ceremony. 

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