Norfolk Naval Support Activity, Virginia

The Naval Station (NS) Norfolk is geographically located in the Southeastern corner of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Hampton Roads is a region including the cities of Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk. Hampton Roads is considered to be a military town with the cost of living being slightly higher than average.

There are 3 Navy Lodges and 7 Visitors Quarters in the Hampton Roads area. Newly reporting personnel are eligible to make reservations in advance and every effort is made to accommodate them. The Regional Housing Office maintains a list of temporary/short-term options.

In 1948, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and staff moved ashore to its present location. At that time, the Flag Administrative Unit was established to provide limited logistic services and support to CINCLANTFLT staff.

In January 1977, a study was undertaken to determine the mission, tasks and functions of a headquarters support activity. In May 1977, the Chief of Naval Operations directed the establishment of the Atlantic Fleet Headquarters Support Activity (HSA) to provide administrative, personnel, logistics, maintenance, transportation, special services, supply, and fiscal services to tenant activities and commands so they could operate with maximum emphasis on their primary missions.

In 1987, the chain of command was restructured making HSA an echelon for command under Commander, Naval Base, Norfolk. In December 1997, the Chief of Naval Operations approved the streamlining of shore support establishments supporting units of the U.S. Navy. Commander, Naval Base, Norfolk was renamed Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, VA to consolidate and functionally realign BOS operations in the Hampton Roads NCA.

In 1999, HSA was redesignated a major command and dual-hatted with the responsibilities as the Installation Commander for three base installations and as the Program Director for Regional Support Services. Headquarters Support Activity was disestablished in March 2000 and renamed Naval Support Activity, Norfolk.