‘‘While we do not discuss specifics regarding security, I can say that the safety and security of our personnel, installations, and equipment is paramount,” Capt. John Sears, Naval Support Activity Washington commanding officer, which includes the Washington Navy Yard and three other naval installations in the Washington, D.C., area said. ‘‘Security at all of our installations is thorough.”

‘‘We extend our sympathies to those affected by the Pentagon tragedy. We also extend our admiration to the brave police officers who were involved in the incident, as well as to our own DoD police officers and master-at-arms personnel, who remain vigilant and professional at all times to keep us safe,” he said.

Security exercise planned

Unrelated to the Pentagon incident, NSAW will join other naval installations and activities in the United States and Guam in an annual security training exercise, known as Exercise Solid Curtain⁄Citadel Shield 2010, coordinated by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and conducted by Naval Installations Command March 22-26.

Sears said, ‘‘This is a previously scheduled exercise, coordinated locally by our training department. Exercise Solid Curtain⁄Citadel Shield has been conducted since 1999 and is not being conducted in response to any specific threat.”

‘‘The week-long security exercise is the largest antiterrorism⁄ force protection exercise conducted nationwide,” Cynthia Brown, NSAW director of security, said. ‘‘It is designed to enhance the training and readiness of Naval Security Force personnel to respond to threats and situations that would occur during an actual emergency.”

More than 250 training scenarios will be utilized across the country, testing operations, according to Capt. Sam A. McCormick, USFF director for fleet antiterrorism.

‘‘We have designed the exercise to minimize the impact and disruptions to normal installation operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic or delays in base access. Employees and visitors also might see increased security postures and emergency responder activity associated with the exercise,” Brown said.

Tim Trammell, NSAW training officer, said subject matter experts in various security and emergency response specialties will observe the exercise, serve as evaluators, collect and analyze information and relay that data to command authorities to further improve security and emergency response practices and procedures for the future.

‘‘Using a realistic scenario as the focus of our exercise, we can use the training environment and the feedback from the evaluators to address issues that will make us more prepared for any actual event,” Trammell said.