Local leaders say they were encouraged by what they heard from Pentagon officials during a recent visit to Washington, D.C., to talk about the next round of military base closures.

A contingent of Everett and Snohomish County officials visited the nation’s capital earlier this month and met with higher-ups in the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy, as well as senior Navy officers whose commands cover Navy installations and legislative affairs.

The group included County Executive Aaron Reardon; Pat McClain, Everett’s director of governmental affairs; and Doug Roulstone, former captain of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. Roulstone is also vice president of the Everett chapter of the U.S. Navy League.

Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson also planned to make the trip but had to cancel for health reasons.

Naval Station Everett and military installations throughout the country are being considered for possible closure as the Department of Defense prepares for the next round of base closures in 2005.

More than 450 military installations have been closed since 1988 as part of the process. With the next round expected to be the biggest yet, local officials pressed the importance of Naval Station Everett to Everett and Snohomish County.

While the two sides couldn’t dive into the details surrounding closure issues, McClain said Pentagon officials stressed that the base-closure process will be thorough and fair.

"We were told more than once it will be precise, analytical, fact-based decision-making," he said.

"I believe that we will be very competitive. We have very strong assets to present to a new Navy," McClain added.

Naval Station Everett has deep-water access, he said, as well as a modern, environmentally friendly facility that’s also strategically located and energy-efficient.

Ray said that in the past, much of the base closure discussion centered on costs.

"This is about performance," he said. "So there’s a significant shift in what this … process means to all the military installations across the country."

The Defense Department signed off on the criteria last week that will be used when military facilities are considered for closure. Talk between local leaders and Pentagon officials mirrored the issues highlighted in the base-closure criteria.

"One theme that we heard throughout our conversations was that of jointness," McClain said, referring to the military’s desire to have units from more than one branch of service share facilities. "They need to maximize their assets and serve more than one mission."

"I have felt for some time this round is more about change than it is about closure," McClain said. "I’m more convinced now."

Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.