TULALIP — Cmdr. Dan Limberg, executive officer of Naval Station Everett, credited the surrounding community with contributing to the station’s success during his “State of the Station” address to the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 18.

Limberg delivered the annual address on behalf of Naval Station Everett Commanding Officer Capt. Michael Coury, and explained how the station and its ships are helping to serve the Navy’s missions of maritime security, threat deterrence, sea control and power projection.

The USS Nimitz has replaced the USS Abraham Lincoln which is no longer home-ported at Naval Station Everett after it departed the station for the last time near the end of last year to cruise through the Pacific and Indian Oceans as part of its six-month global deployment, before pulling into its new homeport at Norfolk, Va., for a 40-month overhaul and refueling of its nuclear reactors.

Last year, the USS Ingraham deployed to and coordinated with Latin American and Caribbean countries to combat trafficking of narcotics and other contraband, and aided in intercepting 450 kilograms of such illicit materials in the process.

“This enhances our regional security,” Limberg said.

Limberg described the Asian Pacific region as “a strategic pivot point” that accounts for 30 percent of global weapons sales. The ships in the aircraft carrier battle group hosted by Naval Station Everett patrol as far as the Strait of Hormuz, through which Limberg noted that 20 percent of the world’s crude oil is shipped from the Persian Gulf to world markets.

The USS Shoup’s seven-month dry-dock maintenance follows its deployment in support of anti-piracy efforts, which Limberg summed up as part of the Navy’s efforts to protect global shipping, especially from Somali pirates and through the Suez Canal.

In addition to the ships home-ported at Naval Station Everett, a number of the base’s sailors have found themselves deployed as individual augmentees, four of them in Afghanistan.

“They are on the ground and in harm’s way alongside their Navy and Marine Corps brethren,” said Limberg, who recalled how one K-9 handler detected 18 pieces of unexploded ordnance.

Limberg praised the surrounding community for welcoming the sailors and families of the USS Nimitz, which pulled into Naval Station Everett to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in March, and deemed the ship’s presence an example of how the station is ensuring long-term fleet readiness in the region. To that end, Limberg predicted that Naval Station Everett would require little change to its current operations to support the destroyers that U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen has proposed to replace the station’s smaller frigates.

Another long-term project at Naval Station Everett has been its 31 percent reduction in energy usage since 2003, as it advances toward the goals of the Secretary of the Navy’s “Zero Waste” initiative, with 10 base buildings receiving Energy Star ratings and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications.

Limberg credited Naval Station Everett with being Snohomish County’s second-largest employer behind Boeing, and invited the community to attend this year’s “Freedom Festival” on June 30, during which time civilians can tour the base and its ships, although USS Nimitz will be deployed at that time.

Shortly afterward, Limberg will retire from the Navy after 24 years of active-duty service on July 2.

“It’s so great here that this is where my wife and I have decided to retire,” said Limberg, who’s become a Chamber member, before laughing, “I’m sorry to be another transplant from California, but I’m glad you’ve accepted us here.”