U.S. Navy Secretary to Visit Area Bases

Marking the first visit by the nation’s top Navy commander in more than a decade, Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton is scheduled to visit the county’s military facilities next week..

Dalton is planning a tour of the Naval Air Weapons Station in Point Mugu, the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme and the Naval Surface Warfare Engineering Facility near the Silver Strand Beach area.

Dalton, who was appointed Navy secretary in 1993 by President Clinton, is scheduled to arrive at Point Mugu at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and is expected to depart that evening.

Though the visit is not open to the public, Dalton’s tour of the three Navy facilities will give military and civilian employees a chance to meet and speak with him.

In light of the threat of military cutbacks and possible base closures, military officials hope to stress the importance of the research and missile testing activities at Point Mugu, said spokesman Alan Alpers.

Point Mugu officials have also planned a question-and-answer session with Dalton and members of the work force.

Dalton will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate a renovated building housing the Seabee base’s library.

“It’s an opportunity to come and visit the bases in the area and address the local troops,” said base spokeswoman Linda Wadley.