Little known facts about Kings Bay

Established in 1978, the base is home to Submarine Group 10, Submarine Squadrons 16 & 20, Trident Training Facility, Trident Refit Facility, Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic, and other support-providing commands.

In addition to being an integral part of our nation's strategic deterrence program, Kings Bay has attained and sustained award-winning results unsurpassed in Navy Region Southeast or other submarine and shore commands in the U.S. Navy. In 2007, Kings Bay received many honors including the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award, Department of Defense Community Drug Awareness Award, Secretary of the Navy Achievement in Safety Ashore, and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program Star status.

The dynamic military and civilian team continues takes great pride in its mission and dedication to service; a base recognized for total commitment to innovation, quality of life, environmental awareness and community relations

Current personnel at NSB Kings Bay:

Active Duty - 5,244

Civilian Employees - 2,063

Contractor - 1,672

Total - 8,979

Economic impact through payroll (approximate): $500 million

Economic impact through goods & service (installation only): $67.5 million

Current Infrastructure (Water, Power, Roads)

Base master plan - specifically reflects future growth

16, 994 acres/25 square miles supported by 12.7 miles of railroad and 140 miles of paved roadway

Approximately 2, 500 acres of unencumbered property (e.g., clear of wetlands or outside of explosive arcs) remain for additional construction/growth

Military Owned and Operated Utilities

230 kV Electrical Distribution System

70 MW Capacity, 36 MW Demand, 34 MW Excess

36 MW Diesel Generator (Backup and Peak Power Demand)

2.9 Million GPD Water Supply and Treatment System

Current Demand 1 Million GPD; 1.9 Million GPD Excess

1.5 Million GPD Waste Water Capacity (Upper Base)

Current Demand 0.75 Million GPD; 0.75 Million GPD Excess

0.75 Million GPD Waste Water Capacity (Lower Base)

Current Demand 0.15 Million GPD; 0.6 Million GPD Excess

Plant Replacement Value $2.2 billion

Child Development Center

Capacity - 245 children including pre-school

Fitness Center Complex

Medium Base per Navy Fitness Standards (3,001- 7,000 personnel)

Youth Center (Boys & Girls Club)

Capacity - 150 elementary age/teens

NEX/Commissary

Commissary - total retail space of 53,000 sq feet

NEX - total retail space of 29,700 sq feet

Designed for military population of 7,600

Public Private Venture (PPV)

GMH Military Housing acquired ownership interest in the Kings Bay housing privatization project and began providing property management and maintenance services October 1, 2007. GMH will receive fees for the provision of these management and maintenance services.

The PPV program maximizes the Navy's investment, provides affordable and suitable housing to military members and produces long-term cost effectiveness.

In addition, the PPV partnership will:

Revitalizes existing units

Replaces uneconomical units

Reduces deficit through new construction

Number of base housing units

Capacity to support 20 Ohio-Class submarine crews and base tenants providing operational support.

665 units

12 Ohio-Class submarine crews (SSBN/SSGN) are currently homeported in Kings Bay

Condition - Excellent

Number of bachelor housing units

Capacity to support 20 Ohio-Class submarine crews and base tenants providing operational support.

1,490 Beds - 1,010 Rooms (one person rooms), 152 Rooms (two person rooms (USMC))

12 Ohio-Class submarine crews (SSBN/SSGN) are currently homeported in Kings Bay

Condition - Excellent

Number of people living in base housing

461 military members

1,089 family members

1,550 total residents

Number of base employees residing in Georgia and Florida

8,163 total employees

4,334 Military Personnel

3826 reside in Georgia

508 reside in Florida (11.7%)

1,890 Appropriated-Funded Employees

392 reside in Florida (20.7%)

334 Non-Appropriated Employees

13 reside in Florida (4%)

1,605 Contractors

92 reside in Florida (5.7%)

12.3% of all employees reside in Florida

Local Schools

Excess capacity exists - Can absorb 1,500 students

Previous OEA Grants for Schools

Approximately $32,930,147.00

Number of retired military residing in Camden County (315xx)

3,996 total retirees

Navy: 2,149

Army: 1,004

Air Force: 682

Marine Corps: 161

Coast Guard: 58

Annual economic impact through retirement: $75 million

Median retirement income: $18,768 per person

Interesting Fast Facts About Kings Bay

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay encompasses 16,994 acres, of which 4,000 acres are protected wetlands.

In 1954, the Army acquired Kings Bay to build an ocean terminal for use during national emergencies. Completed in 1958, the terminal was never used for its intended use and lay dormant until it transitioned to the Navy in 1978.

The Blue Star Shipping Company won the right to lease the terminal wharf from the Army in 1958. The company operated at Kings Bay for twenty years before shutting down in 1978.

Because of its inactive status, then First District Representative Bo Ginn sought to have the land released for commercial economic development. Secretary of the Army Howard Callaway denied the request in October 1974 citing Kings Bay as an "essential installation."

In January 1978, following a two-year site selection study, Kings Bay was chosen from among 60 locations for the new home of Submarine Squadron 16 relocating from Spain. Naval Submarine Support Base Kings Bay was stood up July 1, 1978, with 37 people on staff.

May 1979, the Navy selected Kings Bay as the preferred East Coast site for the Ohio-class submarine. On October 23, 1980, after a one-year environmental impact study was completed and with Congressional approval, the Secretary of the Navy announced Kings Bay as the future home of the new Trident submarine.

Construction of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay was the largest peacetime construction program ever undertaken by the U.S. Navy. The program took nine years to complete at a cost of $1.3 billion.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Camden County's population has grown from 13,371 in 1980 to 43,664 in 2000. A 1980 Environmental Impact Study expected a 54% increase in population by 1998.

By 1980, 27 archeological sites on the base were identified for possible placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is home to a variety of animals, including: 229 birds, 68 mammals, 67 reptiles (five poisonous snakes), and 37 amphibians. Twenty of these species are threatened or endangered.

The base established a foraging and rookery project to encourage growth among the 125 Wood Storks found on base.

Every three months the base's recycling center recycles more than 4 tons of aluminum cans, about 20 tons of mixed paper, 13 tons of white office paper, 80 tons of cardboard, 2 tons of steel, and 15 tons of newspaper.

There are approximately 12 of the original 47 miles of railroad track laid down by the Army still in regular use on the base. St. Marys Railroad still delivers various supplies and missile components by rail.

Trident Training Facility is the largest building in Camden County, with more than 500,000 square feet of classrooms and office space.

Trident Refit Facility dry dock is the largest covered dry dock in the Western hemisphere.

Lt. David Robinson, who went on to become a 1996 National Basketball Association All-Star, served on active duty at Kings Bay. A civil engineer graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy, Robinson worked for the Officer in Charge of Construction Trident from 1987-1989, the office responsible for carrying out the base construction project.

In 1985 Chief Boatswain's Mate Steven D. Cole was selected as Kings Bay's first Limited Duty Officer and was commissioned July 1986. Cole later served as the twelfth executive officer of the base from 2004-2006.