Admiral calls for overhaul of Navy shore infrastructure after decades of neglect
Stars And Stripes
By Alex Wilson
January 21, 2026
The U.S. Navy preserved its combat fleet for decades while shore-based facilities deteriorated and sailors’ quality of life suffered, the admiral in charge of naval installations said this week.
Ports, dry docks and sailor housing were long treated as lower priorities as the service focused resources on shipbuilding, weapons systems and training, Vice Adm. Scott Gray, head of Naval Installations Command, told Stars and Stripes during his visit to Yokosuka on Tuesday.
The Navy’s combat power and readiness originate ashore, Gray said, and inadequate facilities now threaten the service’s ability to compete with major adversaries.
“That’s exactly where you would not want to be if you’re going to face down a major peer competitor” such as China, Gray said. “If we keep doing business the way we’ve been doing business, we’re going to fail.”
Gray, who oversees about 70 Navy installations worldwide, said he intends to refocus the service on its shore infrastructure, which he described as the “cornerstone” of Navy readiness.
He acknowledged the effort will require a “long and sustained” commitment and said his first step is prioritizing what he called a “minimum viable product” approach.
“No gold plating, no ‘I’d really like to have this,’” he said. “It would be nice to have, but I can’t afford to buy that anymore. I can afford to buy you what you need to get your mission done, and then the rest of the money is going to somebody else who’s hurting as much or worse than you are.”
Gray said he is also examining alternative construction methods, including modular and portable facilities, tension fabric structures and prefabricated buildings.
Among the more unconventional ideas under consideration are houseboats custom built to serve as barracks. Gray said he was initially skeptical of the concept but now views it as an option.
“The good thing is, if I have a shortage in one area for a while, and then that shortage wanes or a barracks room comes online, I can take those boats and move them somewhere else,” he said.
About $35 million has been set aside should the Navy choose to explore that option next year, Gray said.
As part of a broader reassessment of spending, Gray said he also plans to reinvest heavily in sailors’ quality of life, particularly through improved and expanded housing and initiatives such as free Wi-Fi in all unaccompanied housing.
The Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, allocated about $375 million this fiscal year for Navy housing improvements. Roughly $75 million was designated for 95 high-priority projects across 50 bases, while the remaining $300 million was slated for six sustainment, restoration and modernization projects, the installations command announced Dec. 18.
“We’re really working hard to get more resources to ensure that we kind of adjust for many years of underinvestment in the shore, and we’ll continue to push hard and focus on ensuring that we’re taking care of our sailors,” Gray said.
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