Dakota Meyer Visits NAS Pensacola, Engages with Service Members

Official Statements

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “NAS PENSACOLA, Fla. — Medal of Honor recipient Mr. Dakota Meyer, senior advisor to the Secretary of War, Barracks Task Force, visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Nov. 3, to engage with Sailors, Marines and Airmen and tour Unaccompanied Housing facilities across the installation.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “During the visit, Meyer participated in physical training with Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) Aircrew Candidate Sailors and Marines at NAS Pensacola’s Radford Gym. The event provided an opportunity for Meyer to interact directly with service members and hear their perspectives on daily life, readiness, and quality-of-life matters.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “It’s not a job; it’s a way of life,” said Meyer, addressing the Sailors and Marines following the physical training session. “How you do here is how you’ll conduct yourselves as fathers, husbands, mothers and wives. There are no secret metrics to success. It’s about what you believe in, and doing what’s right every time.” Meyer began his tour of Unaccompanied Housing facilities at NAS Pensacola’s Corry Station Annex, speaking with service members and gaining first-hand insight into the living conditions and facility needs affecting them.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “While touring one of the Unaccompanied Housing rooms, Meyers spoke with Information Systems Technician Seaman Elena Robles, a student at the Navy’s Information Warfare Training Command and Unaccompanied Housing tenant. “I like to cook,” said Robles referring to her kitchenette. “It’s nice to be able to come back to a comfortable place after school.” Meyer was accompanied by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Hill, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, Capt. Chandra Newman, NAS Pensacola’s commanding officer, and installation Public Works and Housing department leaders.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “The safety, security and well-being of all of our service members that live on this installation is a top priority,” said Newman. “When Sailors, Marines or Airmen in Unaccompanied Housing report issues, our Housing team addresses them. Our goal is that through accountability and community partnerships, we can continue to elevate the standard of living for our junior service members.” Meyer also toured Unaccompanied Housing facilities for aviation students onboard NAS Pensacola, visiting with Sailors and Marines and engaging them in discussions about their living conditions.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “I come from a rough background and after joining the military, this is the nicest place I’ve ever lived,” said Marine Corps Pvt. David Roldan-Moreno, addressing Meyer at Marine Aviation Maintenance Squadron Two’s Iwo Jima barracks facility. “The wi-fi and the new furniture is awesome. There’s not that much to complain about.” The visit concluded with an all-hands call for active-duty Sailors at Naval Air Technical Training Center’s Charles Taylor Hangar. Meyer engaged with Sailors during the event and discussed leadership, accountability and the objectives of the Barracks Task Force.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “This is one of the best bases I’ve been to,” said Meyer. “You’ve got good leadership here, especially in the housing aspect. Every service member deserves a safe, clean and comfortable place to live, and our team at the Barracks Task force is committed to that.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “The Department of War established the Barracks Task Force in October 2025 to address persistent deficiencies in unaccompanied housing across the joint force. The task force is intended to identify and prioritize investment opportunities, develop department-wide barracks standards and policies, and improve accountability for providing safe, functional, and quality living conditions for service members.”

• Naval Air Station Pensacola, November 11: “Founded in 1826, Naval Air Station Pensacola, known as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” supports operational and training missions for several tenant commands, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Naval Aviation Schools Command and Center for Technical Training. The installation also hosts Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 and Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23 and serves as the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command. In addition to an active airfield, NAS Pensacola maintains a deepwater port supporting operations for the U.S. Coast Guard.”