Navy Region Hawaii installations realign public works
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH) completed its transfer of public works maintenance teams from Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii, Sept. 21, 2026. This administrative transition places a diverse workforce of 897 skilled Navy civilians and active-duty service members directly under Navy Region Hawaii, which includes Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) and Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands. This shifts the operational reporting structure away from NAVFAC Hawaii and establishes a more unified chain of command on the ground.
This realignment of maintenance teams was part of Commander, Navy Installations Command’s (CNIC) larger restructuring effort that puts all naval installations in charge of everyday base maintenance, while NAVFAC will focus on infrastructure construction, engineering, and contracting capabilities that enable warfighter lethality.
“Our installations are where readiness begins,” said Vice Adm. Brad Collins, commander of Navy Installations Command. “This realignment is a significant step forward for the Navy Shore Enterprise, bringing the people who maintain and repair our facilities closer to the leaders and tenants who depend on them every day. It strengthens installation-level decision-making, increases our ability to respond at the speed of mission, and ensures our Shore infrastructure is ready to support Sailors, families, and the Fleet wherever they operate.”
Under this realignment, 46 employees transferred to CNRH, 840 civilians and active-duty Sailors transferred to JBPHH, and 11 civilians are now assigned to PMRF. While the day-to-day job aspects will be similar for these personnel, it does allow for installation commanding officers operational control to better prioritize work, manage resources, and maximize mission readiness.
The change in reporting structure has been warmly welcomed by local base leadership, who view the direct alignment as a major opportunity to strengthen teamwork and improve base facilities.
“Welcoming these highly skilled public works teams directly into our JBPHH family is a huge milestone for us,” said Capt. John Frye, JBPHH commanding officer. “By bringing maintenance decisions local, we can jump on urgent repairs right away, make better use of our resources, and keep daily support running smoothly. At the end of the day, this change makes our base more resilient and ensures our warfighters have the strong shore support they need to stay ready for any mission across the Pacific.”
Both Hawaii-based Navy installations will have public works personnel continue to perform their duties under the direct leadership of their respective installation commanding officer. This realignment does not impact NAVFAC personnel performing construction, facilities engineering and design, contracting, and other Department of Navy systems commands.
This administrative transition will not affect any of the realigned employees’ pay, benefits, or leave. The positions are being administratively transferred, but the employees’ compensation and federal benefits remain the same. Navy Region Hawaii human resources team worked diligently to ensure this process was as seamless as possible.
“I think it’s important to note that no positions were eliminated as a result of this transition, and the day-to-day public works mission remains the same,” said Nikcy Dorvil, Navy Region Hawaii Total Force Manpower director. “Throughout the realignment process, our primary goal was to ensure a stable and seamless transition, which allowed our workforce to remain focused on the vital mission they perform.”
By eliminating administrative layers between local leadership and the workforce, the realignment structurally changes how installations respond to infrastructure needs. This integration of resources fosters a more responsive, collaborative environment on the ground, ultimately accelerating the timeline for critical base repairs.
“Ultimately, this realignment was about removing barriers and empowering our installation commanding officers,” said Tiffany Iiga-Saole, Navy Region Hawaii deputy assistant regional engineer. “By reporting directly to these commanding officers, public works employee expertise is now integrated into daily operations more quickly, leading to faster installation maintenance and repair decisions.”
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a strategic U.S. military installation in Oahu, Hawaii, formed by the 2010 merger of the Navy's Pearl Harbor Naval Station and the Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base. It supports Pacific Fleet operations, housing over 270 tenant commands across joint service branches.
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands on Kauai is the world’s largest instrumented multi-domain training and test range capable of supporting simultaneous surface, subsurface, air, and space operations. PMRF serves as a critical asset for national security and is committed to community leadership and the responsible stewardship of the island’s environmental and cultural resources.
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