(photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy Wilson) Prospective commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Capt. Michael Malanoski prepares for a town hall tenant briefing that was held in the Laurel Clark Memorial Auditorium Wednesday where he discussed the transfer of base operating support functions from the National Naval Medical Center to NSA Bethesda.

National Naval Medical Center Commander Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan opened the Town Hall and spoke about NSA- Bethesda and what it will mean to NNMC.

‘‘Bethesda is the hospital, it is a medical center, but it is also a Navy base,” Nathan said ‘‘In other words, I am not only the hospital commander, but I am the installation commander as well.”

Nathan said he was the go- to person with complaints about parking, the gates, the barracks and all issues pertaining to base functions.

The Navy’s overall base command is Naval Installations Command (CNIC). They own all Navy bases throughout the world. CNIC has said to Navy Medical repeatedly that they need to own all medically-owned bases to make everything ‘‘one size fits” all. There are only about three to four bases existing now that NIC does not own and one of them is NNMC.

‘‘Even if the BRAC had never occurred, by 2012, CNIC would acquire and provide the support for the bases of all medical centers.” Nathan said. ‘‘We have expedited that at this particular base because we are headed towards a joint hospital within the next year and a half. We wanted to make sure we had an installation that was dedicated to do nothing but support the base, creature comforts and the hospital.”

Nathan said the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is in full agreement with Bethesda coming under CNIC. He said there’s got to be a clear definition of who owns what and who is responsible for what before the actual integration takes place or it will be too confusing.

‘‘The good news is we’re adding a base commander who knows this place very well. Captain Michael Malanoski was the former NNMC Deputy Commander; so he knows this place inside out,” Nathan said. ‘‘Also Cmdr. John Lamberton, who was the former Assistant Director for Administration, is Mike’s Executive Officer and knows every square inch from a facilities standpoint. We’re very blessed to have this kind of corporate knowledge.”

Malanoski said, ‘‘NSA Bethesda will take over base operating support (BOS) for Public Safety, Public Works and Fleet and Family Readiness.”

Malanoski said NSA’s core mission areas are Public Safety, Safety, Public Works, Special Projects, Environmental and Utility issues. Also part of their mission is Fleet and Family Readiness, which includes the Child Development Center, Fitness, Navy Exchange and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

‘‘Function transfers will take place gradually. The bottom-line impact on NNMC and its staff is nothing...this will all take place behind the scenes and should be a seamless transition,” he said. ‘‘In May, I will assume command and the staff will align to NSA Bethesda – civilians will be detailed and military will receive no-cost TAD. The NNMC Journal newspaper will change to the NSA Journal and will cover base-wide news. Casualty Care meeting attendance will begin in May and NNMC Public Works Office will be headed by Cmdr. Paul McComb.”

In October, NSA Bethesda will be fully operational, he said. He said there will be no impact to tenant commands—they will still be working with the same people. For those in doubt about whether they should go to NNMC, NSA, or JTF Cap Med for assistance or questions, they can go to any of them and will be routed to the correct location.

‘‘We will be undertaking a population survey because we need to know exactly how many people work on base,” Malanoski said. ‘‘The Joint Task Force has remained consistent that we stay under the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) limits.

Malanoski said NSA Bethesda will make sure all lines of communication remain open.

‘‘Through Town Hall meetings, interfacing with tenant commanders and articles in the Journal, NSA Bethesda will keep everyone on base informed,” Malanoski said.

Malanoski reassured staff there might be a hiccup here and there, but everything will be worked out. He said staff can call NSA Bethesda ‘‘we will handle it for you.”