Naval Station Norfolk Closes Some Gates and Cuts Lanes as Precaution

NORFOLK — Naval Station Norfolk, the U.S. Navy installation on Sewell’s Point that Navy Region Mid-Atlantic describes as the largest naval complex in the world, stated on September 1 that it had put in place increased security measures and changed how people enter the base.

The installation said some gates were closed or were running with fewer lanes and told personnel to expect delays and to allow extra time to get on the base. It said it was watching developments with law enforcement and security partners and would change the measures as needed.

The notice named no specific threat, published no Force Protection Condition, the five-level U.S. military system that sets how tightly an installation is guarded, and did not list which gates were shut.

It said further information would be released when it was available and appropriate for public release. U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, Navy Installations Command, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, and U.S. Northern Command had issued no matching public notice on the same measure as of 3:48 a.m. UTC on September 1.

Location

Naval Station Norfolk sits on Sewell’s Point in Norfolk, Virginia, on the Hampton Roads harbor, about 150 miles (241 km) south of Washington. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic states that the complex supports the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Approximate installation coordinates, taken from the U.S. Geological Survey place record for Naval Station Norfolk, are 36.94, -76.30. The September 1 notice applied to access onto that installation. It did not name any other base.

What Happened

• Naval Station Norfolk stated on September 1 that it had implemented increased security measures and adjusted installation access, with some gates closed or operating with reduced lanes.

• The installation told personnel to expect delays at entry and to allow extra travel time.

• It said it was monitoring developments with law enforcement and security partners and would adjust the measures as appropriate, with more information to follow when suitable for public release.

• U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, Navy Installations Command, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, and U.S. Northern Command had published no parallel notice on this access change as of 3:48 a.m. UTC on September 1.

Navy Already Had a Service-Wide Vigilance Order on the Books

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao released All Navy message ALNAV 26050, titled “EPIC VIGILANCE: IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR FORCE PROTECTION AND PERSONAL SECURITY,” on August 19.

The message said U.S. military installations and personnel remained under increased vigilance because of recent unmanned aircraft encounters, suspicious activity, cyber threats, and acts of violence, and it directed sailors, Marines, civilians, and families to harden personal security, report surveillance and unmanned systems near installations and piers, and follow force-protection requirements set by geographic combatant commanders.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service, in that same message, listed probes against access control points among the threat vectors to report. The September 1 Norfolk notice does not cite the August 19 message and does not say the gate change is part of that program.

In a separate incident on August 29, Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth closed gates after a person passed an entry point without scanning a badge, then reopened them the same day. That shipyard is a different installation from Naval Station Norfolk.

Official Statements

• Naval Station Norfolk, September 1: “Naval Station Norfolk has implemented heightened security measures as a precaution to ensure the safety and security of our personnel, families and the installation. As part of these measures, access to the installation has been adjusted, with some gates closed or operating with reduced lanes. Personnel should anticipate delays when entering the installation and allow additional time for travel. We continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with our law enforcement and security partners and will adjust security measures as appropriate. The safety and security of our Sailors, civilians, families and the installation remain our highest priority. Additional information will be released as it becomes available and appropriate for public release.”

• Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, All Navy message 26050, August 19: “U.S. military installations and personnel remain under increased vigilance due to recent uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) encounters, suspicious activities, cyber threats, and acts of violence.”