Military Installations in Virginia Beach
Military installations in Virginia Beach include several United States military facilities that play a significant role in the region's economy, infrastructure, and strategic defense. These facilities represent critical components of the U.S. military's operational presence in the Atlantic Fleet and broader defense architecture.
Naval Air Station Oceana is the primary active naval air base in Virginia Beach. Commissioned in 1943, NAS Oceana serves as the master jet base for the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet strike fighter operations. The base comprises 6,820 acres and is home to approximately 14 deployable Strike Fighter squadrons equipped with F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. NAS Oceana also hosts a Strike Fighter Fleet Replacement Squadron, an adversary training squadron, and a logistics squadron.
The air station operates four runways designed for high-performance carrier-based aircraft operations. Naval aviators and flight officers stationed at NAS Oceana conduct approximately 219,000 training operations annually. The base is not open to the public except during the annual NAS Oceana Air Show, typically held in September.
NAS Oceana is the largest employer in Virginia Beach and has been recognized as one of the largest and most advanced air stations in the world. The base has significant economic impact on the city and the broader Hampton Roads region.
Dam Neck Annex
Dam Neck Annex is a separate military installation operated as part of NAS Oceana, located within Virginia Beach. The facility serves as home to Naval training commands, school houses, and support functions that do not require flying operations. Dam Neck Annex provides critical training and administrative capabilities for the Atlantic Fleet's aviation operations.
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story (JEBLC-FS) was established on October 1, 2009, as a joint military installation resulting from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The base is located in Virginia Beach and serves as the major operating base for the U.S. Navy's expeditionary forces in the Atlantic Fleet. The installation is commanded by the United States Navy and comprises two main components: Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and Fort Story.
The Little Creek portion totals 2,120 acres and serves as the command center for Navy expeditionary operations. The base also includes outlying facilities: 350 acres located just north of Training Support Center Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach, and 21 acres known as Radio Island near Morehead City, North Carolina, used for Marine Corps amphibious operations.
Fort Story is the Army component of the joint base, historically established as a coastal defense facility and now focused on expeditionary logistics and support operations. The combined installation operates under Navy command with Army garrison personnel to manage Army-specific functions.
Regional Military Presence
In addition to Virginia Beach installations, the surrounding Hampton Roads region includes Naval Station Norfolk located in nearby Norfolk, Virginia, which serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet. This concentration of military infrastructure makes Hampton Roads one of the largest military-industrial complexes in the United States.