NAS Key West's national security mission supports operational and readiness requirements for Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Guard units, Federal Agencies and Allied forces.

What makes the southernmost air station attractive to the warfighter is access to unencumbered air space and sea space, the Tactical Combat Training System (TCTS), yearround "great" weather, the piers/harbor, the visitor quarters complex, and the gulf range complex. As such NAS Key West is the Navy's premier East Coast transient pilot training facility for tactical aviation squadrons. The airfield hosts aviation squadrons from around the country on a regular basis to fulfill the mission.

NAS Key West encompasses more than 5,800 acres in the Lower Keys, and the gulf water and air ranges span 134,000 square miles. Air station facilities can support up to 100 aircraft and 1,200 personnel at one time, as well as provide port operations for visiting ships. Over 30 tenant commands call Key West home. These commands include:
• Joint Interagency Task Force South
• Coast Guard Sector Key West
• U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School
• Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202
• Naval Branch Health Clinic
• VFC-111 "Sundowners" Adversary Squadron
• VFA-106 "Gladiators" Detachment Key West
• U.S. Naval Research Lab

The air station's "customers" include active and reserve fighter/strike fighter communities, Chief of Naval Training (CNATRA) units, Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRSs), and other military service users.

The military presence and mission makes a significant economic contribution to the local community. The U.S. military is the largest employer in the lower Keys with more than $100 million in annual salaries. Between 2003 and 2006, NAS Key West averaged 320,346 "visitor days" from the air station's visiting squadrons. The economic contribution by this military segment brought more than $20.5 million in per diem and travel allowances in addition to annual salaries. While this figure of Navy visitors is about one third the number of tourists who arrive by cruise ship, military visitors here on training stay for much longer.