The higher ranking officer would be a two or three star admiral and that would mean more recognition for Mayport.

"He gets to go to meetings and conferences and is part of the operational decision-making particularly on the east coast United States.  We're able to go and sit in planning meetings for the future that we don't get to go to now," says John Meserve, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Military Issues Committee.

The admiral would also lead forces in South America.

Meserve says this is a positive move towards getting a nuclear carrier.