Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Installation Type: Naval Air Station
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Air Station Oceana is located in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Oceana is the Navy’s Master Jet Base on the East Coast and the largest naval air station in the world by aircraft count. Home to Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL) and numerous Carrier Air Wing strike fighter squadrons, NAS Oceana operates the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. All Atlantic Fleet and most Pacific Fleet carrier aviation strike fighter squadrons home-port at Oceana between deployments. The installation is integral to the Hampton Roads military community, the largest concentration of military forces in the world.

Mission & Units

• Primary Mission: Serve as the East Coast Master Jet Base; home-port and support F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter squadrons; provide carrier air wing training and readiness; support Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL) and associated commands.
• Major Units: Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL); Carrier Air Wing ONE, SEVEN, EIGHT (rotational based on deployment cycle); Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic; Multiple Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) with F/A-18E/F Super Hornets
• Tenant Units: Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic (FRCMA) – maintenance and overhaul; Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN/NFWS elements); VFC-12 and VFC-106 (adversary and fleet replacement squadrons); Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex (intelligence/special warfare)

Location & Access

• Nearest Major City: Virginia Beach, VA (population approximately 460,000) – within the city limits; Norfolk, VA – approximately 15 miles west; Hampton Roads metro – approximately 1.8 million people
• Nearest Commercial Airport: Norfolk International Airport (ORF) – approximately 15 miles northwest
• Gate Access: Main gate on Oceana Boulevard; multiple gates; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center

Population

• Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 15,000 (includes strike fighter community, varies with deployment cycles)
• Family Members: Approximately 20,000
• Civilian Employees: Approximately 8,000
• Total Installation Population: Approximately 43,000

Key Facilities

• Medical: Oceana Branch Medical Clinic; Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) is the main tertiary care facility (15 miles west) – full hospital with all specialties; excellent military medical care in Hampton Roads
• Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
• Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Navy Exchange (NEX) and facilities
• Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; pools; golf course; bowling; auto skills; Virginia Beach oceanfront (5 miles to the beach); Chesapeake Bay access; Atlantic Ocean surfing; resort area amenities; Hampton Roads offers world-class history (Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)
• Schools: Virginia Beach City Public Schools serve military families; no DoDEA schools; Virginia Beach schools are among the best in Virginia and are highly regarded; military families report positive experiences with VBCPS; Ocean Lakes High School and other Virginia Beach schools are well-resourced
• Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists common; register early; Virginia Beach has private childcare options
• Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
• Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office, NAS Oceana; appointment-based

Housing

• On-Post Housing: Navy Housing on base; privatized family housing; condition generally good; on-base housing is limited relative to the large population
• Average Wait Time: Can be 60-120+ days; Virginia Beach off-post housing is extensive
• Off-Post Housing: Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Portsmouth are popular with military families; Virginia Beach neighborhoods closest to Oceana include London Bridge area, Kempsville, and Pungo; average rent approximately $1,700-$2,400/month for 3-bedroom home; Hampton Roads has become more expensive but remains reasonable for a major metro; Virginia has no state income tax on military pay for non-domiciliary residents
• BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach BAH is relatively high

PCS & Newcomer Info

• Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining squadron or command; strike fighter squadron sponsorship programs; Hampton Roads is one of the most familiar military communities in the country
• In-Processing: NAS Oceana in-processing; typically 2-3 days; carrier air wing and squadron in-processing for aviation personnel; deployment cycle awareness is important for planning
• EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; excellent specialist access throughout Hampton Roads including CHKD (Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters), Sentara system, and NMCP

Local Area & Quality of Life

• Climate: Humid subtropical; hot humid summers (average high 87F/31C in July); mild winters (average low 33F/1C in January); occasional winter snow and ice; Atlantic hurricane impacts possible; spring and fall are beautiful; Atlantic Ocean breezes moderate summer
• Cost of Living: Moderate; Virginia Beach has become more expensive but remains a good value for a beach city; Hampton Roads is affordable compared to DC, New York, or Boston; no state income tax on military pay (for Virginia non-domiciliaries)
• Nearby Attractions: Virginia Beach oceanfront resort strip (5 miles); First Landing State Park; Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Yorktown (40-55 miles) – the “Historic Triangle”; Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA; Chesapeake Bay; Norfolk downtown, Chrysler Museum, Nauticus Naval Museum/USS Wisconsin battleship; Virginia Aquarium; Outer Banks, NC (90 miles); Washington DC (200 miles)
• Spouse Employment: Hampton Roads offers excellent employment in defense contracting (one of the largest defense contractor concentrations in the nation), healthcare (Sentara, Bon Secours, CHKD), education, government, and technology; Virginia Beach is one of the most military-spouse-friendly employment markets in the country; FFSC assists

Contact & Resources

• Official Website: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/nasoceana.html
• Main Installation Phone: (757) 433-2000
• MWR Website: https://oceana.navymwr.org (verify current URL)
• ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), NAS Oceana; (757) 433-2912; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support; deployment support programs

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/nasoceana.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-air-station-oceana; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavalAirStation_Oceana, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law