This article, "Roosevelt Roads Naval Station," is a mess. It's like a poorly organized attic where you find both treasures and junk, but mostly just dust. It needs more than just a dusting; it needs a complete overhaul.
Roosevelt Roads Naval Station: A Relic Reawakened
Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, nestled in the town of Ceiba, Puerto Rico, United States, is a former U.S. Navy base that, against all odds and conventional sense, has found itself back in the operational fold. Originally a significant military installation, its closure in 2004 seemed final, a chapter closed. Yet, as of November 14, 2025, the echoes of its past have returned, with the base officially reactivated. This resurgence, under the directive of President and Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump, signals a renewed military focus on the Caribbean, particularly in anticipation of potential military actions concerning Venezuela. The base, affectionately nicknamed "Rosy Roads," now includes the José Aponte de la Torre Airport, a public facility that once again hums with military activity.
A History Forged in Conflict and Strategy
The genesis of Roosevelt Roads can be traced back to the vision of a young Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy. His visit to Puerto Rico in 1919 sparked an appreciation for the island's strategic location. The world was teetering on the brink of major conflicts, and the idea of a naval air station in Ceiba began to take root. While Puerto Rico's status as a Commonwealth meant it fell under U.S. jurisdiction, the path to establishing an air base was a slow one.
It wasn't until the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany that the U.S., under President Roosevelt's leadership, truly grasped the necessity of such a facility. With the European and Pacific theatres ablaze, a Caribbean airbase became a strategic imperative. In 1940, President Roosevelt officially ordered the base's creation. The following year, a staggering 820 million in 2024—was earmarked for the development of a secure anchorage in the waters between Puerto Rico and Vieques. This area was officially christened Roosevelt Roads by Navy Secretary Frank Knox on May 15, 1941. Further solidifying its importance, on August 22, 1941, President Roosevelt signed a naval works bill, authorizing an additional 470 million in 2024) for this crucial fleet anchorage.
By 1957, the facility had ascended to the status of a Naval Station. Fort Bundy, a significant outpost, extended its reach into parts of Vieques, Puerto Rico, a geographical detail that would prove consequential later. A U.S. military mission, designated M3, was stationed there, forming part of the "Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Puerto Rico Base Communication Department." M3 was equipped with a fleet center, a technical control facility, and a Tactical Support Communications Department, all aimed at assisting Puerto Rico, the wider U.S., and neighboring Caribbean and Latin American nations in combating issues like drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The primary role of the base, however, was to provide tactical support for the extensive land, sea, and air maneuvers conducted at the Naval Training Range in Vieques.
In 1969, the U.S. Navy established Camp Moscrip, designed to house a rotating contingent of the Naval Construction Battalions, more commonly known as Seabees. The presence of a permanent Seabee unit, complete with personnel and heavy equipment, proved invaluable. Their ability to respond swiftly to natural disasters was demonstrated in September 1998, when they were instrumental in clearing roads and restoring power in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Georges.
Within the industrial heart of the base, a formidable drydock, a bombproof power plant, a sewage pumping station, and a machine shop were brought to completion. The drydock itself, a colossal structure measuring 1,100 by 155 feet (335 by 47 m), was constructed in the dry and saw its first use in July 1943. The power plant, a testament to its era's defensive design, featured 4-foot (1.2 m)-thick concrete walls and housed two 5,000-kilowatt steam-driven generators. The drydock was officially dedicated on February 15, 1944, and named the Bolles Drydock, in honor of Captain Harry A. Bolles (CEC), USN, who tragically lost his life during World War II in Alaska.
The Unraveling and Rebirth
By January 2003, Admiral Robert J. Natter, then commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, declared that with the impending closure of the Naval Training Range in Vieques, Roosevelt Roads had become redundant for the Navy's operational needs. This sentiment paved the way for a congressional appropriations bill later that year, mandating the Secretary of the Navy to close the base within six months of its enactment. Thus, on March 31, 2004, Roosevelt Roads Naval Station officially ceased operations. At its closure, the base was home to nearly 1,200 active-duty officers and sailors. Following the closure, United States Special Operations Command South relocated to Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida's Miami-Dade County. Similarly, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command moved its operations to Mayport Naval Station, near Jacksonville, Florida. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74, another Seabee unit, transferred from Roosevelt Roads to Little Creek, Virginia. With the shuttering of Roosevelt Roads, the sole U.S. naval base remaining in the Caribbean was the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The speed at which Roosevelt Roads was closed, from the congressional vote to its final shutdown, was reportedly faster than any other U.S. military installation in decades. Post-closure, a skeleton crew of 200 sailors and civilians remained to manage the transition from a fully operational naval base to a specialized agency overseeing the winding-down process.
The closure dealt a significant blow to the local economy, resulting in the loss of employment for over 1,000 local contractors and a staggering $300 million in annual direct disbursements. Of the former base's vast acreage, roughly 30% was transferred to the government of Puerto Rico and its constituent municipalities, another 40% was designated as a protected wetlands preserve, and the remaining portion was put up for public auction.
However, recent observations, including satellite imagery and on-site photographs, paint a different picture. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, the very facility that was decommissioned in 2004, is showing signs of renewed activity. Aircraft and personnel are once again operating from the base, with notable sightings including an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, armed with Hellfire missiles, parked at the José Aponte de la Torre Airport, which serves the installation.
The Future, Unwritten and Uncertain
As of January 2009, the landscape of the former naval station was being actively marketed. Approximately 2,900 acres (12 km²) of the decommissioned base were put on the public market by Colliers International, acting on behalf of the Navy's Base Realignment and Closure Program Management Office. This extensive marketing effort was geared towards an upcoming public auction. Meanwhile, the remaining portions of the property were in various stages of transfer to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and other federal agencies. Since November 2008, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority has been managing the operations of the José Aponte de la Torre Airport.
In a curious twist of fate, in 2012, the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station was considered as a potential site for a private launch facility by SpaceX, though it was ultimately not selected. By October 2018, the administration of Ricardo Rosselló had designated the former base as the primary departure point for ferries serving Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico.
The specter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico brought a renewed, albeit temporary, purpose to the site. In mid-March 2020, José Aponte Hernández, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, announced his intention to request funds from Jenniffer González Colón, Puerto Rico's resident commissioner, to restore a former hospital on the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. The proposal aimed to utilize the facility to treat patients affected by the pandemic.
Lingering Military Presence and Future Endeavors
Even after its official closure, elements of the U.S. military continued to maintain a presence. In September 2009, the Navy transferred approximately 53.77 acres (21.76 ha) of land—Areas 55 and 63—to US Army Garrison (USAG) Fort Buchanan. This transfer was intended to support the Reserve Component of the United States Army, encompassing the existing Roosevelt Roads US Army Reserve Center and the Ceiba Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC). By November 2012, the U.S. Army had further transferred this property from USAG Fort Buchanan to the U.S. Army Reserve's 81st Readiness Division. The U.S. Army Reserve Boat Maintenance Facility, situated on Ensenada Honda bay, was subsequently handed over to the Puerto Rico National Guard Landing Craft Detachment, part of the 191st Regional Support Group.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria in 2017 saw a significant, albeit temporary, resurgence of military activity at Roosevelt Roads. A joint task force comprising Army National Guard and Marine expeditionary units established an Installation Staging Base to support rescue and relief operations. They utilized helicopters to transport Department of Health and Human Services assessment teams to hospitals across Puerto Rico, crucial for determining medical needs. Elements of the United States Air Force, including the 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron and the 821st Contingency Response Group, alongside the United States Army's 1st Armored Division Aviation Brigade and the 101st Airborne Division "Dustoff" unit, arrived at Roosevelt Roads to aid relief efforts. Marines and sailors established a supply staging base, receiving continuous airlifts. This marked the most substantial military operation at Roosevelt Roads since its 2004 closure.
Further demonstrating its utility, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations inaugurated a new marine operations facility at the former naval station on August 30, 2018.
The year 2025 has seen a dramatic shift, with CNN reporting in October that the base is once again serving as a staging ground for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean. Despite inquiries, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has remained tight-lipped regarding the specifics of the base's reopening. Meanwhile, in September 2025, Puerto Rican state senators, Nitza Morán Trinidad and Carmelo Ríos Santiago, introduced Senate Resolution 286. This resolution calls for an evaluation into the feasibility and impact of repurposing Roosevelt Roads for the Army's national security needs, highlighting both regional security concerns and the base's historical economic contributions through employment and revenue generation.
A Launchpad for the Future?
The potential for Roosevelt Roads to serve as a space launch site has also been explored. In December 2024, the local redevelopment authority issued a request for proposal for the development of a vertical space launch site at the former naval station.
The Grand Reactivation of 2025
After a prolonged closure since 2004, Roosevelt Roads Naval Station was officially brought back online in November 2025. This reactivation involved extensive efforts, including site clearing, environmental remediation, and the renovation and restoration of existing taxiways and other critical airfield infrastructure. Reports from international news outlets such as Reuters and Le Monde suggest the site is once again serving as a strategic nexus for U.S. military operations within the Caribbean, a move occurring amidst escalating tensions with Venezuela. Satellite imagery and firsthand accounts from late 2025 have confirmed the presence of F-35 aircraft at the base. While U.S. officials characterize these activities as part of regional logistics and counter-narcotics efforts, geopolitical analysts posit that they also reflect broader strategic interests tied to the volatile situation in Venezuela.
As of November 14, 2025, the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base has officially resumed operations. This reactivation, initiated under orders from President and Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump, underscores the United States Military's ongoing efforts to bolster its forces in the Caribbean, preempting any potential military engagement with Venezuela.
