military installations

U.S. Military Installations surround the region, and provide a stabilizing economic influence on the area. Naval Support Activity Panama City and Tyndall Air Force Base in Bay County, along with nearby Eglin Air Force Base, serve as a catalyst for attracting a strong cluster of research activity, defense contractors, aviation and aerospace related companies and suppliers.

COAST GUARD STATION PANAMA CITY is located adjacent to Naval Support Activity Panama City on Panama City Beach, FL. It was originally established in 1933 at St. Andrews Marina and was later moved to Alligator Bayou located on the western shore of St. Andrews Bay, in October 1971.

The main building is 14,000 square feet and is situated on 18 acres of land. The Station has two 45-foot Response Boat Medium, a 29-foot Response Boat Small, and a 24 and 27- foot Shallow Water Response boats to carry out Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Environmental Protection, Living Marine Resource, and Port/ Waterways/ Coastal Security missions. The Station’s area of responsibility extends 50 miles offshore and stretches along 168 miles of coastline from Lake Powell in the west, to Rock Island in the east encompassing 3,900 nautical miles. This large area also incorporates the vigilant watch over 40 bayous, 18 rivers, 16 bays, 3 sounds, 2 lakes and 107.5 statute miles of Intracoastal Waterway. The Station is billeted for 26 active duty Coast Guard personnel and 20 reservists. The Station is the call-out authority for One Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas. Coast Guard Station Panama City is the host command for five tenant commands which include: Coast Guard Cutter COBIA, Coast Guard Cutter RIDLEY, Aids to Navigation Team, Electronic Support Detachment, and a Marine Safety Detachment.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE (TAFB) encompasses more than 29,000 acres in southeastern Bay County. Its host command, the 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) ‘Checkertails’, are dedicated to their primary mission: “Project Unrivaled Combat Power for America!” In 2023, the 325 FW is transitioning between mission sets as the F-22 Formal Training Unit begins a phased move to Joint Base LangleyEustis, Virginia, and the wing receives its first F-35A Lightning II aircraft. Tyndall is being rebuilt into the DoD’s first-ever ‘Installation of the Future’ after it was destroyed by Hurricane Michael in 2018, leveraging cutting-edge technology, resilient infrastructure, and increased security to enable efficient and effective mission execution.

Approximately four thousand military and civilians are employed at Tyndall, making it the largest employer in Bay County. The base provides support facilities for more than sixteen thousand military retirees/dependents and has a local economic impact that exceeds $4.5 billion.

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PANAMA CITY (NSA PC) has its origins in the mine countermeasures research conducted during World War II at the U.S. Naval Mine Warfare Test Station, Solomons, MD. In July 1945, the station was moved from Maryland to Florida, to a tract along St. Andrew Bay.

Over the ensuing decades the base footprint grew to its current size of more than 650 acres and underwent a myriad of name changes until it reorganized under Commander, Navy Installations Command in 2003. The base was renamed Naval Support Activity Panama City (NSA PC), reporting to the Commander, Navy Region Southeast.

The primary mission of NSA PC is to provide, operate and maintain facilities, provide defense and physical security of critical infrastructure and provide operational support to 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.

Florida Department Of Health In Bay County

BAY.FLORIDAHEALTH.GOV / 850.872.4455

The Florida Department of Health in Bay County provides comprehensive public health services. Clinic services include immunizations, TB testing and treatment, STD exams, HIV testing and treatment, women’s health exams and family planning services. Their HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention program provides rapid and confidential HIV and Hep C testing each Tuesday, with test, treat and PrEP.

Freedom 180 is their positive youth development program that focuses on sexual risk avoidance. The Tobacco Prevention Program includes Students Working Against Tobacco and our Tobacco Free Partnership. The Diabetes Services Program provides education for those who need to manage their diabetes and for those who are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

DOH-Bay’s Environmental Health program is responsible for septic systems, inspecting public pools, and the Florida Healthy Beaches Program that samples beach water biweekly from March – October. Florida birth and death certificates are available. For more information, call 850872-4455 or visit Bay.FloridaHealth.gov.

ASCENSION SACRED HEART BAY (ASHB)

WWW.BAYMEDICAL.ORG / 850.769.1511

ASHB is the only hospital in the Panama City area offering comprehensive cardiac care including open heart surgery, TAVR, and cryoablation. The medical team offers board certified cardiologists, as well as cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons.

ASHB offers pediatric and adult rehabilitation at two locations: 2497 Martin Luther King BLVD, Panama City, and 1111 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach. Both facilities provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

ASHB offers 24/7 emergency services at two locations: the main hospital campus at 615 Bonita Avenue, and the Beach ER at 1111 Panama City Beach Parkway.

HCA FLORIDA GULF COAST HOSPITAL

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay is a 136 Bed Hospital with 8 operating rooms, 5 cardiac cath labs, and focuses on heart and surgical services, including robotic surgery. Ascension Sacred Heart Bay is a Level II Trauma Center, Level II Adult Cardiovascular Center, AHA Gold Level Stroke Center, and AHA Gold Level PCI. ASHB employs over 1000 individuals in Bay and surrounding counties, and provides services for patients in a seven county area.

HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital is a 238-bed acute care hospital serving Bay County and surrounding communities for 45 years. Located in Panama City, Florida, its team of more than 550 providers and 1,100 employees work to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care. With the area’s only designated Pediatric ER, four-bed Pediatric ICU and 28-bed NICU, the hospital is ready to care for Bay County’s youngest residents. Average ER wait times are available by texting ER to 32222. The hospital has the only Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI with Resuscitation as recognized by the American College of Cardiology. The hospital has received advanced certification for Primary Stroke and Sepsis as designated by the Joint Commission. The hospital’s cancer program has achieved comprehensive designation by the Commission on Cancer and is an accredited breast program by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancers (NAPBC). These designations demonstrate the hospital’s commitment to safety and quality of care.

HCA has two 24/7 emergency facilities in the Bay County area: HCA Florida Breakfast Point Emergency on Panama City Beach Parkway, and HCA Florida Panama City Emergency off of Highway 231.