New chief of police at NAS Jacksonville

In 1974, Gommer enlisted into the Marine Corps to serve in the Marine Corps Security Forces Atlantic.

During the mid-80's, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff decided to upgrade the security training programs for the Armed Forces due to the continuous and growing terrorist threats to our world.

They established the Marine Corps Cadre Program which was a group of 62 personnel who were hand-picked to become the Naval and Marine Corps Law Enforcement Training Program instructors. These instructors were tasked with going to naval installations world-wide and training personnel in Auxiliary Security Force (ASF) measures so that they would be able to step in and assist with the naval security side of the house.

Gommer was one of those soldiers, and as a plankowner of the program, he took part in the training of the very first ASF teams at NAS Jacksonville.

He retired from active duty in 1997 as a gunnery sergeant after 23 years of service.

Following retirement, Gommer began working as a civilian but realized something was missing.

After much thought, he decided to once again don a uniform, but this time it wasn't camouflaged, it was a federal police department patrolman's uniform.

In 1998, Gommer was hired as a patrolman at NAS Jacksonville and from there, he began his rapid climb up the ladder of rank.

"I did my time on the street and on the gates. When I saw a problem that I felt needed to be addressed, I brought the proposal of change along with a solution to my superiors. I never had a problem getting my thoughts out on to the table," said Gommer.

His perceptiveness did not go unnoticed. After only one short year, he was quickly promoted to a corporal/lead officer in 1999. A promotion to sergeant followed in 2000 and in 2002, Gommer was promoted to lieutenant. He then took on tougher internal collateral duties that included the departmental air show coordinator in 2000, 2004 and 2006 which is no small feat. Organizing the security precautions, traffic enforcement, outside agency responsibilities, gate operations, inspections and not to mention anti-terrorism measures and security manpower had to fall into the hands of somebody during the air shows and Gommer effortlessly took on those responsibilities.

He also filled the position as acting chief of police when called upon in the absence of the former chief of police.

His new duties will be to oversee the entire law enforcement mission of the team at NAS Jacksonville.

"We want to be a model department for all other agencies to follow and we strive every day to achieve that goal. The group of men and women serving in this agency are a superb group of professionals and they will continue to provide the best possible service to the people of NAS Jacksonville," remarked Gommer.

The new police chief is completely experienced in all of his new duties. He has provided leadership and training to the NAS Jacksonville Security Department, the local outside agencies and even to the public.

"We have established a liaison with the outside agencies and now have them coming to us to see where they can help us. That is what we wanted. We also wanted a working relationship which let them know that the level of professionalism, the law enforcement assets and the things that we have are things that they could draw from us and utilize and at the same time how we could benefit from their help and services," recalled Gommer about taking the first steps to bridging a liaison with the local Jacksonville emergency departments.

Over the years, Gommer's decision to continue to serve his nation has proven to be the road he was destined to follow.

"There were other departments and agencies that I had a lot of respect for and they had thrown offers on the table for me. People asked why I was passing those offers up. The more I though about it, with all of the training that I have received and all of my military experience, I felt that as a veteran, I was bringing more to the table," noted Gommer. "I know what its like to be deployed and I understand what it's like to go through family separation."

"I understand what everybody who is wearing a uniform today is doing and what they represent. I think that is something that very few Americans can relate to. I decided that I was going to come back to serve and protect under that aspect," he added. "I wanted to serve those who are doing what I did for 23 years and I am doing it with a group of people who understand and feel the same way about it that I do."

The men and women of the NAS Jacksonville Security Department work and train hard every day toward a very important mission.

"Our primary mission is undoubtedly to protect the warfighter and provide that asset to them. We understand what is going on in the world and to protect what the warfighter has left behind in our hands and that is their families. That piece of mind is priceless," he said. "Knowing that we are part of the team of assets at NAS Jacksonville who assist in keeping the service members free from worrying about the welfare of their families is something that we are very proud of. We are continuing our growth through training and ensuring that the people of NAS Jacksonville are secure and safe."

Gommer and his wife of 30 years, Vickie have a son, Wade, who recently completed criminal justice coursework at Florida Metropolitan University. He has plans to follow in his father's footstep by serving his nation and enlisting into the military under the law enforcement field.