Naval Air Station Whidbey Island will be getting a new boss next month.

Capt. Geoffrey Moore is set to take over as base commanding officer at a change of command ceremony Feb. 19 on base.

Moore, a native of Middletown, Conn., last served as commanding officer of a helicopter anti-submarine squadron based in San Diego.

NAS Whidbey commanding officer Capt. Michael Nortier said he plans to retire.

Nortier took command three years ago. Under his leadership, NAS Whidbey was named the number one naval base in the world by the Navy last year, which recognizes the top bases in its annual Installation Excellence Awards.

“He’s been top-notch in my book,” said Oak Harbor Mayor Bob Severns. “He’s connected with the city really well.”

Severns, previously a city councilman, noted that Nortier made an effort to work with city leaders, meeting with the former mayor regularly and connecting with the city council.

City Councilman Jim Campbell, a retired Navy chief, described Nortier as a good leader, who knows how to communicate a job — and then get out of the way.

“Which is the way to do leadership,” he said. “Let them use their talents.”

Communication with both city leaders and people in the community has been stellar, Campbell said. Nortier talks about what’s going on at the base at community meetings.

As a city leader, Campbell can make an appointment and bend the commander’s ear.

“From my personal experience, he’s done an excellent job,” Campbell said.

Nortier was unavailable to provide comment.

Nortier, a native of Sodus, N.Y., earned his wings in 1991. He racked up more than 4,300 hours in naval helicopters. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Tomodachi, the nation’s relief effort after the tsunami devastated Japan in 2011.

He held a range of positions.

Before reporting to Whidbey, he served at U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Operations Directorate, where he traveled to Iraq to serve as an individual augmentee as the director of the Senior Advisors Group.

NAS Whidbey is the home of all the Navy’s tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-6B Prowler and the EA-18G Growler.

The base also is home to four P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol squadrons and two fleet reconnaissance squadrons flying the EP-3E Aries.

The commander said he plans to stay in Oak Harbor after he retires, Severns said.

“It’s wonderful for him to stay in the community,” he said. “He’ll be a citizen of our community. It doesn’t get any better than that.”