Anacortes resident James Rankin, U.S. Navy Cmdr., NAS Whidbey Island, represented his workplace Thursday at an Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Rankin, a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, has lived in Anacortes since 2009. He currently serves as executive officer of the Oak Harbor air base. In a wide-ranging report regarding naval aviation operations, Rankin noted that many Navy personnel and families call Anacortes home. Among other things, naval aviators based on Whidbey are tasked with vital contributions toward maintenance of free nautical lanes and air space utilized by nations over the globe. “NAS Whidbey is a significant employer and contributor to the Washington State economy,” said Rankin. The base employs 10,500 military personnel and 2,100 civilians.