U.S. Navy photo by MC3 (AW) Jesse Awalt Capt. John A. Sears III (right) officially relieves Capt. George A. Chamberlain Jr. as commanding officer of Naval Support Facility Washington, May 8, while Commandant, Naval District Washington Rear Adm. Earl L. Gay looks on. The traditional change of command ceremony took place in the Cold War Museum on the Washington Navy Yard.

The Washington Navy Yard has regained its own identity under Chamberlain’s leadership, said Rear Adm. Earl L. Gay, Naval District Washington (NDW) commandant and the keynote speaker at the event.

In addition to the Navy Yard, NSAW includes Naval Support Facility Anacostia, the Naval Research Laboratory and the National Maritime Intelligence Center.

Gay said Chamberlain established an effective command watch structure during his three years as NSAW commanding officer. Chamberlain also established an emergency operations center so that ‘‘we all could respond quickly to ensure the safety of personnel and the execution of critical mission functions.”

Installation appearance has been improved by more than $75 million of renovation projects, which Chamberlain saw through completion, according to Gay. Chamberlain also paid close attention to the quality of services provided by base operating support contractors.

In addition, there has been a marked improvement in customer service functions, which is evidenced by various awards the installation has earned, said Gay. NSAW is the recipient of the Navy Community Service Award, the Admiral Zumwalt 5 Star Award for the Navy’s Premiere Flag Visitor’s Quarters, the Department of Energy’s Blue Level of Achievement Award and honorable mention for the Navy’s Community Service Program of the Year.

Chamberlain said he didn’t know what happened behind the scenes at naval bases before he assumed command of NSAW. He has accumulated more than 3,000 flying hours in the SH-60F, HH-60H and SH-3H helicopters, and the base was ‘‘just a place where I came to fly my helicopters, shop at the exchange, maybe go to the club,” he said. ‘‘I thought they ran pretty much on their own.”

Soon after coming to the Yard, he discovered the true complexity of operating a naval base. He was involved in developing a variety of base functions, such as awards programs for servicemembers and civilian workers, military quarters, department head meetings, Tenant Executive Council, Captain’s Call, NSAW All Hands Quarter, town hall meetings, safety stand down, environmental fairs and base-wide cleanup.

Chamberlain has also been involved in the creation of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, which he feels will be the model for joint basing and a base that is the pride of the Navy and Air Force.

Other base functions which have involved Chamberlain include one-Yard-parking, parking for Nationals fans and Individual Augmentee Homecoming celebrations. Chamberlain also helped in starting the Patriots Project, a community outreach project to beautify the Historic Congressional Cemetery, and Mordecai Booth Public House, the Irish pub which Morale, Welfare and Recreation operates on the Yard.

Chamberlain departs NSAW to take up duties with the Navy Staff at the Pentagon.

Gay feels Sears is more than ready for the challenges that lay ahead for him as NSAW commanding officer. ‘‘Your leadership will continue to move NSA Washington into the future,” said the admiral.