Law Enforcement Have Identified Person Who Breached NAS Pensacola Security
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
March 10, 2026
PENSACOLA, Ala. The Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the person who caused a lockdown when he breached the Naval Air Station Pensacola on Monday.
Sheriff Chip Simmons tells us that he’s sure that they have identified that person.
He said that they believe Joseph Edward Valinsky, 38, is the suspect.
NAS Pensacola suddenly closed its gates Monday morning after a person reportedly beached their boat on the base and ran ashore. A large search of the base was conducted by Naval police, base security and local law enforcement, but the man was not found.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff, the man somehow evaded capture on base, ran off base, then evaded capture again after being chased by the sheriff’s office.
“He claimed to have been in a boat that capsized and that’s why he was wandering onto their shores,” Sheriff Simmons said. “He fled from them.”
A short time later, deputies spotted Valinsky walking along Gulf Beach Highway. They noticed he matched the description base security had on their intruder.
“We used our in car camera. We took a still-shot of him, compared that with a still-shot of what they saw on NAS and confirmed it was the same person,” Sheriff Simmons said.
Additionally, deputies say Valinsky had already been wanted in connection to unrelated fleeing and burglary cases.
However, when deputies approached Valinsky, he ran and escaped again.
The sheriff says they believe that Valinsky is homeless. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Congressman Jimmy Patronis was briefed by base Commanding Officer Chandra Newman.
The sheriff says Valinsky does not appear to be a terrorist threat but his act was criminal and authorities will probably charge him accordingly.
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