Capt. Geoff “Jefe” Moore is settling into his new role as the skipper of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

He took command Feb. 19. The learning curve is a steep one, and he said he expects he’ll be learning until the day he hands the keys to the next guy.

This is his first major installation command and his first time stationed in the Pacific Northwest. NAS Whidbey was one of Moore’s top choices for a command.

“We’ve never been to the Northwest,” he said. “We are one of those military families that likes to travel and see new places.”

Moore is married to Sue and the couple has two children, a seventh grader and fourth grader. Both children attend Oak Harbor public schools. Like base commanders before him, the family lives in an historic home on the Seaplane Base.

“You get to wake up and see the Cascades, the Olympics,” he said.

His typical day starts early with print and TV news, followed by a run around Maylor Point. On weekends, he focuses on typical dad stuff: Little League games, soccer, camping and hiking. He recently threw out the first pitch for Little League. He opted not to throw his knuckle ball — whether for his sake or the children’s is not clear.

Moore is at work around 7 a.m. His day is filled with meetings as he learns the ins-and-outs of running what is essentially a city.

His predecessor, Mike Nortier, left NAS Whidbey in shipshape. Moore inherits a naval base named No. 1 in the world last year.

“He gave me a fantastic base in great condition,” Moore said. “We have incredible people running the base. It’s a great collaboration.”

He also inherits an unpleasant public relations mess and lawsuit with opponents on the island and beyond fighting against touch-and-go jet practices at the Outlying Field Coupeville and the military’s plans to add more EA-18G Growlers. An environmental impact statement on the addition of up to 36 more Growlers that may be stationed at NAS Whidbey is taking longer than expected. Officials now say it should be released in the fall.

Also, some residents on the Olympic Peninsula don’t like plans to introduce electromagnetic transmitters to its electronic warfare training. The Navy conducted training flights over the peninsula for years but wants to add mobile trucks with emitters,  which give more realistic training for pilots.

Part of his daily routine is reviewing every noise complaint filed concerning NAS Whidbey jets. Moore said he wants to continue listening to concerns from the public. The base’s public relations staff is already making trips to the peninsula and Moore said will join them to connect with community leaders.

“The best thing I can do is communicate with leadership in all the areas.”

However, he takes a dimmer view of the grassroots group Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve, which asked to meet with him. No meeting is scheduled. Partly, that’s because there’s a lawsuit. Partly, he said, “Why would it be in my interest to talk to someone who wants to get rid of me?”

Moore views his greatest challenge as managing the transition from the P-3 Orion to P-8A Poseidon, particularly modifying hangars to fit the taller aircraft while still completing his daily responsibilities.

“It feels like we’re trying to renovate the house while living in the basement,” he said.

The threat of base closure is again rearing its head. A Pentagon report to Congress made public last week said that more than one-fifth of military bases would be considered excess by 2019. The report was meant to convince Congress of the need for Base Realignment and Closure authorization.

The last BRAC was in 2005.

NAS Whidbey was considered for closure during the 1991 BRAC but was deemed a mission critical Navy asset.

While it’s Congress, not the Navy, that takes action, Moore said it seems unlikely NAS Whidbey will be considered given the critical role it serves as the home base for the Navy’s Growlers and the West Coast home for P-3 and the future P-8A aircraft.

“I would say it’s not even on the table,” he said.