military installations
U.S. Military Installations surround the region, and provide
The installation is also home to T-38 Talons, the 2nd
a stabilizing economic influence on the area. Naval Support
Fighter Training Squadron, and 30 associate organizations,
Activity Panama City and Tyndall Air Force Base in Bay
including Headquarters 1st Air Force, 601st Air Operations
County, along with nearby Eglin Air Force Base, serve as a
Center, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, AFCEC and the
catalyst for attracting a strong cluster of research activity,
337 Air Control Squadron (Air Battle Managers).
defense contractors, aviation and aerospace related companies and suppliers.
Approximately 4,943 military and civilians are employed
COAST GUARD STATION PANAMA CITY is located
The base provides support facilities for more than 11,597
adjacent to Naval Support Activity Panama City on Panama
military retirees/dependents and has a local impact that
City Beach, FL. It was originally established in 1933 at St.
exceeds $743.8 million.
at Tyndall, making it the largest employer in Bay County.
Andrews Marina and was later moved to Alligator Bayou located on the western shore of St. Andrews Bay, in
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PANAMA CITY (NSA PC)
October 1971.
has its origins in the mine countermeasures research conducted during World War II at the U.S. Naval Mine
The main building is 14,000 square feet and is situated on 11 acres of land. The Station has two 45-foot Response Boat Medium vessels, 25 and 29-foot Response Boat Small SAFE boats to carry out Search and Rescue, Homeland
Warfare Test Station, Solomons, MD. In July 1945, the station was moved from Maryland to Florida, to a tract along St. Andrew Bay.
Security, Maritime Law Enforcement, and Environmental
Over the ensuing decades the base footprint grew to its
Protection missions. The Station’s area of responsibility
current size of more than 650 acres and underwent a myriad
extends 50 miles offshore and stretches along 168 miles of
of name changes until it reorganized under Commander,
coastline from Lake Powell in the west, to Rock Island in the
Navy Installations Command in 2003. The base was
east. This large area also incorporates the vigilant watch
renamed Naval Support Activity Panama City (NSA PC),
over 40 bayous, 18 rivers, 16 bays, 3 sounds, 2 lakes and
reporting to the Commander, Navy Region Southeast.
107.5 statute miles of Intracoastal Waterway. The Station is billeted for 30 active duty Coast Guard personnel and 21 reservists. The Station is the call-out authority for three Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas. Coast Guard Station Panama City is the host command for five tenant commands which include: Coast Guard Cutter COHO, Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, Aids to Navigation Team, Sector Field Office and the Electronic Support Detachment. TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE (TAFB) encompasses more than 29,000 acres in southeastern Bay County. Their host command, 325th Fighter Wing, is dedicated to their primary mission: “TRAIN AND PROJECT UNRIVALED COMBAT AIR
The primary mission of NSA PC is to provide, operate and
POWER.” As one of the Air Combat Command’s largest
maintain facilities, provide defense and physical security of
installations, the wing trains F-22 pilots and maintainers,
critical infrastructure and provide operational support to
intelligence specialists, and airfield operations officers.
the Fleet, Fighter and Family, and supported commands. Major tenants include Naval Surface Warfare CenterPanama City Division (NSWC-PCD), Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU), and U.S. Coast Guard Station Panama City. Together, NSA PC employs more than 4,000 civilian and military personnel with an annual payroll of more than $466 million. Additionally, the base contracts for local goods and services, which amounts to more than $600 million annually in economic impact.
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2022 GUIDE TO DISCOVERING BAY COUNTY
