Officials worry Oceana is at risk for BRAC

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Government and military officials are worried Naval Air Station Oceana may be targeted in the next Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) hearing, so they're taking all the necessary precautions. 

In 2005 , Hampton Roads nearly lost the Master Jet Base in the hearings. Those involved seven years ago admit the region came close to disaster due, in part, to bad preparation. 

Today, it is a much different scene, with experts spending everyday talking about the next BRAC and how to put into context the recent Oceana F/A 18-D Hornet crash , which destroyed a massive part of the Mayfair Mews Apartments complex. Even though no lives were lost that Good Friday, the next BRAC may not look at Oceana so favorably. 

The next BRAC hearing has not been set, but will likely take place in 2013 or 2015.

In 2005, BRAC Chairman Anthony Principi single handily put Oceana on the hit list. At the time, Principi said, "While we recognize the recent steps taken by local governments to control future encroachment, the past record of development creates a sense of uncertainty."

Principi was referring to the City of Virginia Beach and critics who say the city has failed to address the encroachment issues around Oceana.

In 2005, then Virginia Governor Mark Warner knew Hampton Roads had dropped the ball, telling Principi and the BRAC, "We've heard the shot across the bow."

Warner, now a U.S. Senator, told WAVY.com, "There was a certain amount of assumption of ours that we wouldn't take a bullet."

Principi, exploiting his BRAC connections, now claims to have "the most experienced BRAC team in the nation." His consulting group, The Principi Group , now advises communities on how to benefit from BRAC. His major client is the state of Florida, the state that nearly took Oceana's jets in 2005.

Back in 2005, Principi, who had been President George W. Bush's Secretary of Veterans Affairs, pushed very hard to get Oceana on the hit list when the base had not been on the list before. Former President Bush's brother, Jeb, was the governor of Florida at the time, and testified before the BRAC that the jets should be moved from Oceana to Cecil Field.

Many at the time believed there to be a conflict of interest. The Navy brass also all believed Oceana was the best site for the jets. In the end, Principi said, "...there appears to be no viable option for Oceana." Residents of Jacksonville, Fla. also voted against the jet transfer in a referendum.

Since 2005, Hampton Roads has organized at every level of government to prevent what happened to Fort Monroe from happening at Oceana. Fort Monroe was decommissioned in 2011 as an active base as a result of the 2005 BRAC.

One group working to protect the future of Oceana is the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance , also known as HRMFAA. WAVY.com asked HRMFAA Executive Director Craig Quigley whether he considers Principi the enemy.

"You would have to consider him not friendly to Oceana, Virginia, Hampton Roads, yes," Quigley answered.

HRMFAA was born out of the near 2005 BRAC disaster.

But, Quigley said that near disaster proved to be a big wake up call. 

"...there was no single organization whose job it was every day to keep their eyes on the ball of what's happening to the military facilities in the region."

HRMFAA works hand-in-hand with Virginia's Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Secretary Terrie Suit.

"In 2005, we had desperate programs, desperate initiatives. We were not a region bonded to preserve our military activities," Quigley explained.

Prior to her appointment as Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security secretary, Suit was a member of the House of Delegates, writing laws to make Hampton Roads compliant with Principi's BRAC demands. Since 2005, the state and Virginia Beach has spent $62 million buying land to reduce density around Oceana.

"So, there are many things BRAC asked us to do to alleviate their concerns, and we did everyone of them," Suit told WAVY.com. She also pointed out the only BRAC demand not fulfilled was actually condemning property to take homes. All the buy backs were voluntary.

State and local officials are also in daily contact with federal leaders, like Senator Warner.

"The Navy actually cites Virginia Beach and Virginia as examples of communities that get it. They are trying to be good long term partners," Warner said.

Principi was also listening to Virginia Beach residents, like Retired Captain John Shick.

Shick lives in one of the worst noise zones around Oceana, and is a founding member of Citizens Concerned About Jet Noise (CCAJN). CCAJN filed a lawsuit against the Navy for noise violations, which resulted in a $34 million judgment. But, Shick was not part of the suit and did not receive one cent.

"Our effort was always focused on what could be done to make living conditions better, and safety was a concern that currently existed....we were never anti-Oceana," Shick told WAVY.com.

CCAJN has since dissolved,