Employment up at naval base
Total federal employment at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head grew slightly during 2016, according to the yearly demographic and economic report released by Naval Support Activity South Potomac on Wednesday.
The annual study details the effects of the naval bases in Dahlgren, Va., and Indian Head on surrounding areas. In fiscal year 2016, federal employment experienced a slight bump from 2,683 to 2,692 employees at NSF Indian Head.
“The report is evidence that the base is continually growing,” said Indian Head Mayor Brandon Paulin. “It’s a huge asset for the town and for Charles County.”
An increase of just nine people may seem like an insignificant change, but this number is noteworthy given that the Joint Interoperability Test Command left the base this past year. Additional hiring at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian head Explosive
Ordnance Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD) helped counteract the loss of one of NSF Indian Head’s major commands. The report did mention that total federal employment statistics are fluid and offer only a glimpse of the naval base demographics.
“Since employees leave commands and are hired throughout the year, the job numbers are merely a snapshot of employment
at each command and base,” notes the report.
Total budget authorizations rose from $841 million to $903 million in fiscal year 2016 at NSF Indian Head. Local contract spending, which encompasses contract money spent in Indian Head as well as Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties, totaled nearly $40 million. The report analyzed spending and budget authorizations to account for the economic influence of non-payroll money. Once again, this data offers more of an estimation than precise figures.
“The purpose of this study is not necessarily to account for every dollar and job associated with NSF Dahlgren and NSF Indian Head; the diverse commands and agencies at each base, some of which are aligned under non-Navy service branches, mean absolute precision is beyond the study’s scope,” explained the report. “Given those challenges, the study was careful not to exaggerate any economic impacts and its conservative approach almost certainly understates the impact of the bases’ dollars and jobs in the local region.”